Now that fair trade certified wine‘s hit the market, socio-eco-conscious activists are celebrating with a triumvirate of fair trade products: Chocolate, flowers, and wine. TransFair USA, the nonprofit that certifies fair trade products for the U.S., even put together a special Fair Trade Valentines site — complete with “where to buy” buttons to steer you to your nearest ethical yummies.

That said, finding these products locally isn’t a piece of fair trade chocolate cake for most people — especially if they shun chain stores like Sam’s Club (owned by Wal-Mart) and Target, the two stores where fair trade wines are easiest to find. I’m curious enough to stop by Target soon just to pick up a bottle though –

Some Whole Foods also carry Stellar Live a Little, a fair trade South African wine, and Co-opportunity sometimes carries Etica’s Carménère, which I tried a while back.

Fair trade chocolate’s easier to find in stores all over L.A. Unfortunately, fair trade flowers are pretty much nowhere to be found around here. According to TransFair’s storefinder, the nearest fair trade flower vendor’s all the way in San Diego!

You can, however, order fair trade flowers online at 1-800-Flowers. And if you take the pledge to buy fair trade on TransFair USA’s Valentines site, you can get 15% off your fair trade bouquet.

Yes, I know — There are local and organic options for flowers and wine too, which also make great choices. More deets on those later — For now, here’s my Valentine’s Day post from last year: Fair trade, enviro-conscious Valentine’s Day roundup.

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