Equal Exchange celebrates 3 decades of collaboration with interfaith communities

For 30 years, faith communities across the country, including many in the Presbyterian fold, have used Equal Exchange’s fair trade products to support their fellowship hour, table sales, holiday bazaars, and more.

An Equal Exchange fair trade table at the Falmouth Alternative Gift Market, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in 2016.

Equal Exchange, a leader in the fair-trade movement since its founding in 1986, and a worker-owned cooperative, is proud to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its Interfaith program and announce a series of webinars to honor the impact of the program and build momentum for the future. 

Webinars will be held:

• September 24th, 2026 at 2:00 PM Eastern: 30 Years of Interfaith and Equal Exchange
• October 1st at 2:00 PM Eastern: Energize Your Congregation This Fall
• October 16th at 2:00 PM Eastern: 25 Years of Fair Trade at Ascension Lutheran

Launched in 1996, the Interfaith program has grown from a grassroots effort into a network of more than 10,000 congregations—including a strong presence in the Presbyterian Church—all united by a commitment to social justice and sustainable trade.

By using Equal Exchange Fair Trade coffee, tea, and other products for fellowship hours, table sales, and holiday bazaars, Interfaith partners help provide pre-harvest credit to small farmer cooperatives. In turn, these farmers rely on this financial stability to pursue ecologically sustainable farming practices, stay on their land, and build vibrant, strong communities.

“One of Equal Exchange’s greatest innovations is that we are an alternative trade organization connecting farmers and consumers directly—and it doesn’t get more direct than our Interfaith program.”
– Rink Dickinson, Equal Exchange Co-Founder and President

Interfaith partners highlight how the simple act of choosing fairly traded products turns a mission statement into real-world, impactful action. For 30 years, whether large or small, these Interfaith efforts have been essential to helping Equal Exchange continue its work building long-term trade partnerships that are economically just, environmentally sound, and mutually beneficial for farmers and consumers.

Interested in becoming a part of the Equal Exchange network of supporters and energizing your fellowship hour, peace and justice committee, green sanctuary team, youth group, holiday gift bazaar, fundraiser, or to just want to learn more: contact Susan Sklar at ssklar@equalexchange.coop or register for an upcoming webinar at https://www.info.equalexchange.coop/fall 

About Equal Exchange

Founded in 1986, Equal Exchange is an employee-owned cooperative dedicated to authentic fair trade. Partnering with over 40 small-farmer cooperatives around the world, Equal Exchange provides high-quality, sustainability-grown coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, dried nuts and fruits, olive oil, and more. For the last three decades, it has partnered with faith-based organizations across the country to energize their fair trade ministries.

Media Contact:

Tim Lane
Marketing & Web Team Generalist
tlane@equalexchange.coop
(503) 548-1664

Interfaith Program Contact:

Susan Sklar
Interfaith Program Manager
ssklar@equalexchange.coop