In the last several years, people have been inundated with rules about how to shop, where to shop, what to shop for, and what not to shop for. They’re told to buy with fair trade in mind, to buy only organically grown foods, locally grown foods, and green products. Everyone wants to be a good citizen of the world and do the right thing, but the thought that goes into buying a tin of coffee these days takes longer than it takes to drink it. How do people manage it all?

Today, consumers have become lobbyists. They are making a difference by demanding changes through campaigns that raise awareness, to change the way corporations, governments, producers, vendors, and individuals think. Here is a brief outline of what New Age Consumers consider when making a purchase. 

The Fair Trade Certified Label

Fair Trade is a new approach to traditional international trade. It’s a spreading of wealth – richer countries partnering with low-income countries. The aim is to sustain and grow development in those economically depressed countries. More money reaches the producer and it cuts much of the funds for the middleman. By increasing the producer’s income, more jobs are being created, schools are being built and infrastructures are being improved. Some of the funds paid are diverted to assist in these improvements directly. Fair Trade certification ensures the product is produced in a safe environment, that no children are laboring in those environments, and that women are valued equally. 

The Certified Organic Label

Why organic? Because organically grown foods are produced without chemicals and have a higher antioxidant value. Organically raised livestock have not been touched by growth hormones. And neither produce nor livestock has been genetically altered. 

The yield for the organic grower is much smaller than that of growers using conventional farming techniques and this is why consumers pay more for these products. But for many consumers, the expense is worth it. Studies have revealed that farms with pesticide use have caused workers to have a much higher rate of health problems from headaches to birth defects in their children. And these products are being consumed every day. There is research now, to show that hormone injections in livestock are causing young girls to menstruate early, literally aging them. 

Governments have very strict rules in place for any product to be certified organic. Animal and vegetable produce certified organic cannot be guaranteed organic, since chemicals in the air, soil, and groundwater may be extant in small amounts. However, the consumer can be assured of purchasing a more natural product. 

Buying Local

Every day we hear of one food product or another being tainted with salmonella, E. coli, listeria, and the list goes on. A considered purchase may help keep you and your family safe from these tainted foods. When buying locally, you know exactly where it’s coming from.

When we buy fresh produce at the local grocery store, we are buying from all over the world. The produce has been picked unripe and has been sitting in trucks and ships for many days or weeks. Much of what we purchase is grown in Central America. It is impossible to be certain those products are grown in a healthy environment, free of chemicals and pesticides. Even though we rinse our vegetables, steam or boil them we still can’t be sure the produce is clean. 

When we buy locally or buy produce grown within a fifty-mile radius of our homes, we can be certain our food is fresh. It also lessens the use of fuel to get that produce to our tables which certainly reduces the carbon footprint. 

In the end, you are helping the economy in your area, by reducing the middleman and allowing more funds to the farmers. Farmer’s markets are quickly springing up in towns and villages all over the US, Canada, and elsewhere. 

Buying Green

The first step to buying green is in deciding whether or not you as the consumer, really need the product. The less consumers consume, the smaller their footprint. 

Consumers can identify green products easily by the labels. And more and more green products are showing up on store shelves.

So, what is a green product? In a few words, it’s simply a product that has very little, if any, negative effect on the environment. We presently demand more from the earth than it can supply. To sustain our natural resources we need to consume less by thinking about what we buy and how we use the products we buy. 

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