Union of Peasants for Self Development in Niger

It’s officially the hottest shopping season of the year. And there are sale signs as far as the eye can see, but at what cost.

Wildly cheap products usually mean cheap labor and dubious working conditions.

The 7th annual Fair Trade Market is out to even the score. Handmade products aimed at reducing poverty in the areas of the world with the poorest populations.

This is the last weekend for the Fair Trade Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at Manchester United Methodist Church, 129 Woods Mill, Manchester.

Organizers challenge you not to buy some “over-priced, over-packaged, sweatshop-made, plastic thinga-ma-jig.”

In addition, the market offers up cultural entertainment, tasty food and merchandise from artisans who were paid a fair wage.

Prices average $20 per handmade item no sweatshops, forced labor or destructed rain forest in sight.

Shop the market for art, clothing, handcrafts, musical instruments, games, sporting goods, home décor, food, books, toys and jewelry from more than 50 countries.