Kalinga Unoy, Ulikan Red, Tinawon Fancy, Tinawon White—these are the names of rice grown in the mountains of the Cordillera region of the Philippines...And it brings us a story about food, hospitality, culture, and hope.

This past weekend I worked for this Fair Trade organization at the Chocolate Show which was held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in NYC.

Equal Exchange, the first Fair Trade company in the United States founded in 1986 tried out the Chocolate Show for the first time this year.  It was definitely a success!  Equal exchange is also known for their fair trade teas, coffee and now bananas.  They work with small-scale farmer co-operatives in the Dominican Republic, Panama & Peru for the chocolate; Madagascar for the vanilla; Costa Rica & Paraguay for the sugar; Nicaragua, Ethiopia and many more countries for Coffee.

You can also find beautifully handmade tea cups and mugs from Ceramica por la Paz or Potters for Peace at the UN Gift Center located at 46th Street and First Ave.