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On Saturday, April 14, the local Fair Trade group ‘Many Hands Many Lands’ brings the world to the historic Winona Knitting Mills Building, 902 East 2nd Street. Six vendors representing fair trade oranizations will bring an array of imported handmade goods, available for purchase from 8:00 am through 3:00 pm.
Among their offerings are coffee, chocolates, candies and confections; weavings, jewelry, baskets, apparel, purses and handbags; carved boxes and trunks, glassware, porcelain, intricate sewn artworks….to identify just a sampling.
Artists, producers and growers source from a dozen Central and South American countries, eight or more African nations, a list of Asian, European and aboriginal populations, and American Indian tribes.
“Every item has a story behind it”, said one MHML volunteer. “It’s hard to tell what’s more fascinating, the beautiful items or the stories of the people behind them. Once you hear the stories of the lives of the producers, you can’t leave the merchandise behind. You’re making a human connection across miles, over something that’s unique and beautiful.”
Because Fair Trade strives to minimize costs for profit margin, packaging, shipping and conventional merchandizing, buyers are realizing bargains not available anywhere else. Proceeds of their purchases go almost entirely back to the people producing the goods. More information about Fair Trade will be available at the Market.
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