NewsForge: FOSS Facilitates Communication for German Fair Trade Co-Op

“Plattsalat is an organic and fair trade food cooperative in
Stuttgart, Germany. Its members run the co-op, paying a monthly fee
for the privilege of purchasing goods, making decisions, and
participating in the work that goes into keeping a shop like
Plattsalat running. But with 250 members, making sure everyone gets
their say can get complicated. In order to disseminate information
and facilitate communication, Plattsalat set up its own wiki. Board
member Thomas Becker says open source software ‘fits our
philosophy, political ideas, and our aims to change the world for
the better.’

“Becker calls Plattsalat a ‘typical medium-sized German organic
shop.’ The co-op sells meats and vegetables, fruits, coffee, and
even decorative bags. ‘What makes us different is that we put more
emphasis on fair-trade products,’ he says, ‘from producers that
have proper working conditions. And of course, we don’t make
profits…'”

Complete
Story