April 22 2011

Penncrest High School of the Rose Tree Media School District here in Southeast Pennsylvania, is vying to be the world's first Fair Trade high school. They have an active committee spearheaded by senior Victoria Powell, Mike LoBiondo of the English Department and many student members of Interact (student Rotary Club).  The school has started selling Divine Fair Trade certified chocolate in their store and on May 2, Lisa Taddei, of the food service department, run by Chartwells, will begin to offer Pura Vida, Fair Trade certified coffee and teas for sale in the mornings.

Also, Victoria just attended a Fair Trade Schools conference at Western Kentucky University and came back loaded with good ideas. The University just declared as a Fair Trade University and the Emma Willard School, that just became the first Fair Trade (private) High School was represented there.

They have shown Dark Side of Chocolate several times and Victoria will be giving a presentation to all of the faculty next month. They will be participating in World Fair Trade Day by having a breakfast on Friday 5/13 with FT bananas, coffee, tea and chocolate.

In conjunction with the America's First Fair Trade Town Committee, they will be pushing to get more Fair Trade products, as well as local, in the school and educate the community about this issue.