Madison residents got their dose of fair trade Saturday as the Pres House hosted the eighth annual Community Action on Latin American Fair Trade Holiday Festival.

More than 20 vendors spread out across three floors and presented a wide display of items from coffee to ceramics, as well as food, recipes and clothing, all from local and Latin American producers.

The festival placed products on the market directly from producers without any exploitation from any middle person in order to maximize the benefit of the producers, according to CALA volunteer Katherine Loving.

“It’s a great atmosphere, everybody benefits from these transactions, especially the producer,” Loving said. “There are lots of items and it’s great for those of us on budget.”

Loving continued to compliment the inexpensive nature of the fair-trade concept.

Although the festival takes place once a year, coordinators stressed Madison is unique, because fair-trade choices are available every day.

Fair-trade choices are available all along State Street as well as in cooperative grocery stores around the city, where many of the items at the festival can also be found.

The festival has historically taken place on campus, although turnout is typically low from the student population.

Despite the low turnout from students, many were pleased by the high numbers from older age groups and the wide variety of products available this year.

“[The festival] must have really grown, this is the biggest variety of sales I’ve seen here,” one visitor said.

Student awareness is an issue CALA hopes to increase for fair trade options.

“It’s important for students to know of the fair trade choices they have available to them, not just here today, but everyday in Madison,” Loving said. “You don’t always have to go to chain stores to get what you need, fair trade is a great choice.”

Festival coordinators said giving fair-trade items as gifts is good for more than just the recipient.

“These gifts give twice,” Carol Bracewell, festival coordinator, said. “Fair trade gives a dignified wage to those who made the gift.”

Bracewell said the event could push other local businesses to think about including fair-trade items in their stores.

“If businesses are aware of the demand for fair trade, it’ll hopefully get them thinking,” she said.

The event also featured organizations that educate employment issues in Latin American countries. If more people are aware of how to start their own business in the fair-trade market, they will be less inclined to feel the need to be exploited for substandard wages, Bracewell said, adding when more workers learn of the market mechanisms, they will be more likely to succeed in the United States.

By hosting the holiday festival, CALA seeks to educate shoppers on alternatives to “exploitive” trade.

“There is so much money in this country and we really need to think about where we spend it,” Bracewell said.

Aside from the annual festival, CALA also presents speakers on Latin American issues and hosts a monthly Latin American Roundtable for people to converse on opportunities for travel and advocacy.

All the money earned by vendors stays with them, as CALA takes no percentage of the revenue, although they do charge vendors a fee per table in the Pres House.