Fair Trade and Equal Exchange
SO THERE I WAS, STANDING IN THE RAIN IN CHICAGO. THE YEAR WAS 1999, AND I WAS AT YET ANOTHER PROTEST. THIS ONE WAS IN FRONT OF STARBUCKS.
We were demanding that they start carrying Fair Trade coffee. Starbucks had hired some guy in a suit to deal with us. Suit immediately swooped in after our spokesperson was whisked away by television reporters.
Then Suit began to spin. He alleged that Starbucks coffee really was fair trade. No dice. I was well-versed on the issue, and could debate the difference between “fair trade” and “certified fair trade”. I navigated through his inaccuracies point by factual point.
Suit was obviously annoyed. Indeed, he looked downright shocked when our relentless group refused to discuss this inside the store over a cup of coffee, and continued to stand in the rain with our signs and flyers, petitioning customers to demand that Starbucks carry certified Fair Trade coffee. He seemed to wonder why all these folks were making such a fuss about some beans.
Q&A with Marilyn Hamstead
First published in 1984, The Basil Book contains tons of information on how to “grow prodigious amounts of basil, anytime, anywhere,” and detailed descriptions of 13 different basil species.
Also included are tons of recipes for everything basil: In addition to the pesto and pasta recipes, the book’s got everything from basil horseradish sauce to basil brandy, from icy cinnamon basil fruit compote to basil vinegar, from pepperettes to pastes and much more. Non-food recipes include several for hair rinses, basil facials, bath bags, potpourris… and even basil amulets.
Sprinkled in are fascinating excerpts from old herbals and pharmacopoeias, including Latin translations. Hampstead even slips a fresh basil leaf or two between the pages of the book before mailing it out.�..8.
I was lucky enough to speak with Hampstead about her book – and basil, of course.
Q: How long have you had a penchant for basil?
A: Since I first tasted pesto in my mid-teens in Detroit. Love at first bite.
