Fairtrade Mural Unveiling and Annual Owners Meeting

The Lexington Co-op, in partnership with Fairtrade America, Gimme! Coffee, and local artist, Julia Bottoms, is thrilled to bring a new mural installation to Buffalo!

The mural features Ibu Rahmah, a fourth-generation coffee farmer and the chairwoman of Ketiara Cooperative, the largest coffee growing operation in Sumatra, Indonesia. The coffee grown by Ibu Rahmah and her fellow cooperative farmers ends up in products from Gimme! Coffee, which shoppers can find on shelves at Lexington Co-op.

In celebration of October Fairtrade Month, the mural will officially be unveiled at a community event open to all, on Saturday, October 19 from 1-4 pm.

1:00 Remarks by Lexington Co-op, Fairtrade America, Gimme! Coffee, and Julia Bottoms.

1:30 Official Mural Reveal

1:50 Music and Dance performance by Nusantara Arts

3:00 Owners Meeting – remarks by General Manager Tim Bartlett, and Vice Chair, Heather Lazickas

Guests will enjoy a music and dance performance by Nusantara Arts, a nonprofit committed to preserving and celebrating the rich, vibrant cultural heritage of Indonesia in Western New York. Guests will also enjoy Lexington Co-op snacks and desserts, beer and wine, activities for kids and more - a great opportunity to celebrate the fall season with the whole family.

The first 100 guests to arrive will receive a free Fairtrade gift bag!

Family Fun: Face painting, pumpkin painting, coloring and yard games!

Food & Drinks:

• FREE appetizers and desserts from Lexi’s Kitchen
• One FREE beer, wine, seltzer or N/A refreshment from Resurgence Brewery, (additional drinks for purchase)
• Food trucks serving up lunch for purchase

Community Partners: Learn more about the local organizations that you donated your change to this past year.

Free Coffee Samples: Sip delicious samples of Fairtrade coffee from our friends at Gimme! Coffee and learn more about the impact of choosing Fairtrade products.

We hope this mural will entice shoppers to learn more about products in our store that are sustainably sourced and support equality in farming, like the coffee from Gimme! Coffee.

The realities of unfair trading systems are deeply felt in farming communities and are compounded by economic instability and inflation. Ibu Rahmah says the Fairtrade certification provides three key advantages for coffee farmers: fair prices, improved farming practices, and guidance in running a transparent collective business model – all things we believe in at Lexington Co-op.

As part of our Fairtrade Month celebrations and as one of only THREE stores selected to have a new mural this year, Lexington Co-op will offer discounts on Fairtrade certified goods including Gimme! Coffee, Tony's Chocolonley, and more!

Parking

Parking is limited. The Co-op will close half of the parking lot for this event, leaving 20 spaces available. We encourage you to walk, bike, carpool, and take public transit. Arrive early to secure street parking in North Buffalo.

We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Host or Publisher Lexington Cooperative Market