Thursday, May 8, 2008 - Public News Service - Dick Layman/Kevin Clay

Des Moines, IA - Iowa's farmers want to give fair trade a fair shake in their state. Saturday is "World Fair Trade Day," promoting a worldwide movement to provide farmers with a living wage while protecting the environment in developing countries. The event will also encourage consumers to make fair trade items a larger percentage of their purchases throughout the year.

Iowa vegetable producer Rick Hartmann thinks fair trade practices could also be applied to local farmers. 

"If you look at the direct market movement in Iowa you incorporate a lot of the benefits of the fair trade system for local farmers."

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