FRAMINGHAM - It's all about education for Fair Trade Caravans, a new local venture that promotes fair trade goods and practices.

The business, which started up this past March, gives presentations to local schools and nonprofits about fair trade, and helps those organizations conduct fundraisers with fair trade goods such as chocolate, tea and honey.

Owner Carol Fassino said it's important to teach people the importance of paying farmers and artisans a fair price for the goods they produce.

"Free trade products are traditionally more expensive," she said. "Without an understanding about why they're priced the way they are, people have no incentive to buy them."

Toward that end, Fassino worked with an education consultant to create a visual and interactive presentation that can be tailored to fit different grade levels and audiences. With younger children, for example, the presentation follows the journey from a cacao pod to a chocolate bar in a store, while older children learn more about the economics at play.

Fair Trade Caravans then works with the school or group to hold a fundraiser with fair trade goods. Fassino said the fundraiser works as many others do - like those involving wrapping paper or candy - though she works to be transparent with her costs and the amount the school or nonprofit group receives.

"I am a for-profit business, because I felt that was a way to prove fair trade's viability," she said. "You can make a living off it."

This is a new venture for Fassino, as she started her career in biotech. A Natick native, she had been employed in MetroWest for years, though she found herself wishing she had worked internationally as well. She decided to apply this interest in world affairs locally, spreading the word about fair trade.

"It involved a lot of soul-searching, thinking and talking to people," she said.

Given her familiarity with the area, Framingham was the ideal place to begin her efforts.

"It's where I have personal connections," she said. "I've joined many networking groups, and participated in Framingham's Earth Day and holiday events."

Fassino said, over the months since she started Fair Trade Caravans, she'd given presentations to about a half-dozen local schools. She said she hoped to spread the word in an approachable way, asking people to consider fair trade products or learn more about the issue instead of preaching to them about it.
