I’m not a big fan of Valentines Day for many, many reasons, including the fact that Starbucks infected SoCal with pink, heart-covered things even before the new year.
I am, however, a big fan of chocolate.
Many of you already know that a bulk of the chocolate in stores gets there through child slave labor. Many of you also know that fair trade chocolate provides an ethical alternative.
And Global Exchange is totally on top of it. They’ve already put up a Valentines Day Section on their online store, complete with a fair trade chocolate boxes and gift baskets, as well as cards, heart-shaped jewelry, and the like.
The prob, however, is that fair trade chocs are kinda expensive, compared to “regular” chocolate. Most fair trade chocolate is “gourmet” chocolate — and come with gourmet price tags.
This price issue, I think, will be somewhat less of a problem during Valentines Day, when one’s ostensibly buying chocs for the nearest and dearest, than say, Halloween, when you’re giving the stuff out to strange, bratty, or cute kids.
And for gourmet chocolate, fair trade gives you pretty damn good bang for your buck. Godiva’s non-fair-trade, small heart box costs $12.50, for ex.
Still, as Rainy’s pointed out, cost is a concern, esp. if you have many loved ones you’d like to share chocolates with.
Thus — My idea: A fair trade Valentines Day party, chez moi, with fair trade chocolates for sale from Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates. The company sells by the box for fundraising purposes. But I’d sell the chocolates at cost ($1.50), since the whole point of this is to make fair trade chocolate more affordable and accessible.
And of course we’d have organic wine. All green LA girl readers in the area would be invited — None will be turned away for being part of a couple or threesome.
The main concern I have: Logistics. Should I have the party ON Valentines Day, so that the unattached, like myself, have plans for the night? Or, should I have the party somewhat before that, so that people can buy chocolates to give out to others on the actual day?
All suggestions and overeager RSVPs welcome — Please email me if you’re interested in attending, since I’ll send out an evite with directions later –
You are 400 miles away, but near good sushi which is impossible to find here. I also miss getting chocos for choco day… sushi, fair trade chocos, and thee. Tempting, very very tempting…
Comment by Lloyd — January 18, 2006 @ 8:32 pm
Ooo…you know I’m in. =D
Comment by Kristy — January 18, 2006 @ 9:06 pm
Sorry I won’t be able to attend :-( Would like to though to meet you for the first time…hope you have a future plan to visit France/Antibes in particular :-) Happy Valentine to you and everyone…
Comment by Maya — January 19, 2006 @ 1:46 am
Don’t think I’m going to make it over to LA from Ireland for Valentine’s Day but hope your party goes well - and that the chocs are scrumptious!
Comment by Caroline@Bibliocook — January 19, 2006 @ 5:35 am
Since folks living geographically closer to you than me are citing energy concerns for not making it to your party, it wouldn’t be appropriate on my part to come all the way from India. Party your chocos off!
Comment by Garam Chai — January 19, 2006 @ 7:00 am
I’m soooo there and sooooo married — I’d say do it right smack on the day — valentines’ day has always been a big pain in the ass in my experience. Unless you are on your like 5th date with someone you can’t wait to jump later that night. If you’re single, it stinks; if you’re anywhere past your 1st year partnered you’re effing bored with the jiggy, so it stinks plus could be a fight. Not to mention that getting a dinner reservation is hell.
But chocolate? Fair trade chocolate? Organic red wine and fair trade chocolate? Now THAT’s exciting. Could make all of those shitty valentines’ days fade away.
You mention giving the chocolate away? I’m not really so much for that. My valentine would have to get lucky in a whole new way in order for that to happen.
Comment by kimmy — January 19, 2006 @ 8:17 pm