The development of “Futur” is strictly linked to fair trade, particularly since 2001 when fair trade became one of the mainstays of our activity.

“Futur”relationship with fair trade begins in 1998 when we open “Compra Solidària” shop in order to offer our handicrafts and games, together with some articles from ten other social entities, with a fair trade section and with a special promotion in Christmas time.
Later on, we create the game “Fair Coffee” for Intermón.
From 2001 on, we participate in trade shows and festivals so as to promote the sale and use of fair trade products, one of the main goals of our entity.
Thus, in April 2001 we open the coffee house “Cafè Just”, a bar restaurant that uses fair trade products as much as possible and where a small corner-shop for them is also displayed, a device reproduced in all the bar restaurants run by “Futur”.
In May 2001 we serve our first catering, obviously using fair trade goods. Since then, our catering offer has been focussed on the highest promotion of fair trade products, on the use of those already available in the market, on proposing the importers to create or to import new ones, and on the goal of creating them ourselves, which is the case of our famous chocolate brownie, our carrot cake or, this last Christmas, our handmade rolled wafers.
By the incorporation in “Futur” of two new professionals, a chef and a confectioner, our proposals for coffee brakes and appetizers will consolidate even more.
Our strategic development plan envisages the creation of a great central kitchen outside Barcelona to enlarge our catering service, and the manufacturing of fifth gamma products and confectionery, always with our distinctive label of ecological goods and fair trade.

• We have also managed several coffee shops in Fair Trade Festivals, in Bioculture or in the Day of Hope
• We promote and advise for the creation of new catering services all over Spain provided that fair trade plays a relevant role, such as the “Madre Tierra” service of the “Asociación Semilla” in Madrid, recently opened
• We also promote fair trade lots for Christmas, combining ecological and economically solidary products. Anyway, 2006 has been the last year we have offered this service because of the proliferation of enterprises offering the same
• In 2005 we become a membership of the Fair Trade State Coordinator
• In 2006 we set up the “Punt Just” project that, apart from creating self-occupation for excluded people, promotes fair trade consumption in the street, by means of strategically locating some selling points.
• Also in 2006, we publish the book ”Una altra cuina és possible: 100 receptes amb ingredients de comerç just” (“Another cuisine is possible: 100 recipes with fair trade ingredients”), written by Manuel Almirall, the director of “Futur”, a work that is giving way to a contest of popular recipes over the whole nation and to the subsequent edition of the books gathering these recipes.
• And therefore “Futur” is the first enterprise in Spain that systematically incorporates fair trade products in the diet of those schools whose kitchens and meals we manage.
• The present year we have asked for a grant to the Torres Quevedo Foundation in order to develop a three year I+D project on the fair trade quinoa and its possible applications in the food industry.

Note about small incongruities

“Futur” gives support to fair trade but also to local products. Usually, fair trade goods are grown in tropical climate and its production is not suitable in Catalonia or in Spain, except for some wines, sparkling ones, and some legumes.

So, “Futur” has decided not to import these specific products to avoid the environmental cost of their transport and not to weaken our own agricultural system.

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