Bluffton has much to celebrate this coming World Fair Trade Day on Saturday, May 8.

Bluffton is the first town in Ohio to become a Fair Trade Certified Town. During the weekend, at the Bluffton Farmer's Market, the fair trade booth will offering a sampling of fair trade food items while supplies last.

Bluffton meets the requirements of the Fair Trade Federation because there are a number of businesses in town who use and sell fair trade items.

When an item in a Bluffton business is labeled "fair trade," it tells customers several key things about its production.

First, the producer was paid enough to cover the cost of sustainable production along with a bit of surplus to invest in the community. Also, payment was given to the producer in a prompt manner; and a contract is in place to allow long-term production planning.

In further celebration this month, Ten Thousand Villages, 115 S. Main St., is offering complimentary coffee samples each Saturday.

In addition, Ten Thousand Villages will give a free gift to store patrons (no purchase necessary) on May 8, World Fair Trade Day, and on Saturday, May 22, during Bluffton~Ac^a'not^a"cs Arts and Crafts Festival. Free gift and coffee are while supplies last.