The Town of Taos earned the designation as a Fair Trade Town in February of 2008 when the Taos Town Council members passed a resolution and enacted guidelines to prepare for the coveted designation. With adoption of the resolution, the Town of Taos joined only five other cities and towns in the United States who had become Fair Trade Towns. Taos was the 1st Fair Trade Town in New Mexico, the 1st in the Western US and the 5th
nationally.

A Resolution recognizing "Fair Trade" as an innovative market economy model that benefits millions of farmers, farm workers, and their families around the world, and encouraging all Town of Taos businesses and institutions to offer and promote Fair Trade products whenever possible.

Whereas, Fair Trade provides producers with fair prices that translate into higher incomes and improved living conditions; and

Whereas, Fair Trade promotes fair labor practices and healthy, safe work environments in the production of food and other goods; and

Whereas, production of Fair Trade goods is achieved through sustainable and ecologically friendly means, thus benefiting the planet; and

Whereas, Fair Trade Certified™ products and other products such as handcrafts which are sold by Fair Trade Federation member businesses are widely available for purchase in Taos, New Mexico; and

Whereas, Fair Trade represents the opportunity for consumers to make a difference in the lives of others through their purchases of Fair Trade; therefore be it

RESOLVED, the Town of Taos collaborates with community members to appoint a local committee to ensure ongoing education and commitment to Fair Trade; 2) the town encourages businesses, institutions and local organizations to promote and sell Fair Trade Certified products whenever possible; 3) the town commits to procure, when possible, competitively priced Fair Trade Certified products such as coffee and tea which would normally be purchased for council meetings, office supplies, etc.