"Fair trade has helped us a lot," explains Cecilia Appianim, a cocoa farmer from the Kuapa Kokoo cocoa cooperative in Ghana. "Through this process we are able to care for our children. Before, children were walking [around idly] in the village. Now, children are in school, because now we have schools." Appianim says that fair trade has also empowered women in Ghana, "[Before], women were not taking part. Now women are able to take part." Women in Kuapa Kokoo participate in elections and hold elected positions, and Appianim is currently its financial secretary.

This Halloween, little ghouls and goblins in the U.S. can do their part by spending the night "reverse trick-or-treating" in partnership with Global Exchange. As kids go door-to-door, they'll switch roles and hand over fair-trade chocolate and literature to neighbors. Fitch-Frankel expects 40,000 households to learn about fair trade on Halloween night. For more information, see reversetrickortreating.org.

The Goods

Divine Chocolate, partially owned by the farmers of Kuapa Kokoo, sells 100 percent fair-trade-certified chocolate. Pass out bite-sized milk chocolate eggs ($6.50/200 pieces; www.lwr.org). Or give kids a chocolate treasure. Global Exchange is carrying Divine's Fair Trade Gold Coins, which read "Ghana Freedom and Justice" on one side and "Fair Deal for Cocoa Growers" on the other ($3.99/22 pieces; store.gxonlinestore.org). Visit www.divinechocolateusa.com to search for retailers by state.

Equal Exchange's organic and fair trade Dark Chocolate Mini's are available for a limited time this Halloween. ($12/68 minis; eeretail.stores.yahoo.net).

For whole chocolate bars, try Alter Eco's certified organic and fair trade chocolate ($4.29/bar; www.altereco.com, 415-701-1212).

Beyond labor issues, help reduce environmental frights by choosing candy made from organic sugar, which is produced without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers with methods that conserve soil. Try the Candy Tree's Organic Mixed Fruit Toffee, sweetened only with organic fruit juices and corn syrup and containing no artificial colors ($2.89/2.6 oz bag of individually wrapped pieces, www.veganessentials.com) and Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops, made with 100-percent natural colors and flavors ($2.69/bag of 15; www.veganessentials.com). Or buy a pack of organic candy mix including organic gummi bears, lollipops, root bear float candy and milk chocolate ($28/80 pieces; naturalcandystore.com).

Whether you stay in and man the door or hit the pavement to gather goodies this year, treat yourself to a safer, more sustainable and more humane Halloween.

Resources

For more information on fair trade, visit globalexchange.com and www.transfairusa.org.

There are plenty of other opportunities to make a difference on Halloween. Join UNICEF's ranks of kids helping kids on their widely successful "Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF" program, gathering donations for UNICEF's worldwide aid programs while collecting treats. Pick up a collection box at local a Hallmark Gold Crown store or Pier 1 Imports, or order one online at www.unicefusa.org.