By Brittney Bain

Faith organizations and congregations around the country are promoting fair-trade chocolate for trick-or-treaters to raise consciousness about conditions and prices for cocoa farmers around the world.

"This is an example of how everybody has the ability to make some change," said Susan Burton, who works for the the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society in Washington... 

By Hanneke Brooymans

Some children will be participating in a reverse trick-or-treat campaign to make people aware of the ongoing child labour and environmental damage involved in the chocolate industry.

These children will hand out fair-trade certified chocolates made from cocoa that was purchased at a fair price -- a price that allows farmers to make a decent living, as well as premiums to invest in health care, safe water, education and business infrastructure, says TransFair Canada, a non-profit organization that promotes fair-trade products... 

By Marty Stempniak

A group of Oak Park and River Forest children is going door-to-door today practicing reverse trick-or-treating: They're handing out fair trade chocolates to those who answer the door. The reversal is a way of giving back to the community while raising awareness of poverty and unfair labor practices in cocoa-growing countries.

The idea for the reversal started last year when Oak Park mom Jane Zawadowski received an e-mail from Global Exchange, a nonprofit that started giving out the chocolates...

By Steven G. Vegh

As her boys stroll door-to-door hollering "trick or treat" this Halloween, Katherine Johnke will be right behind them with another message: "Fair trade chocolate!"

Johnke, 38, of Chesapeake, will give homeowners chocolates guaranteed not to be produced with child labor or unfair pricing for farmers... 

Participating congregants plan to give the 19-cent chocolates to trick-or-treaters, or have their own children give the candy to homeowners. Each treat includes a card describing the Fair Trade philosophy and cocoa industry practices...