Halloween is around the corner, and you know what that means…Time to stock up on treats!  It’s the one time of year when you can pig out on candy guilt-free, but don’t reach for your typical candy bars just yet.  Before you head to your local grocery store, you might want to keep these green guidelines in mind.

When it comes to chocolate, make sure you’re buying not only organic, but Fair Trade — which ensures that the farmers are getting a fair price for their goods, and their farms do not tolerate any inhuman working conditions.  Also, avoid candy loaded with artificial sweeteners, which often contain high fructose corn syrup and preservatives – yuck!  Buying green can often be expensive; according to the National Retail Federation, we each spend an average of $21 on candy for Halloween, giving you a rough estimate of how much you should be paying.  Here are three candy suppliers that are keeping their sweets organic, local, and so very yummy.

Pure Fun
Pure Fun purchases all their raw ingredients from fair trade suppliers.  And, their entire line of candies is non-synthetic and natural.  Try their Chocolate Meltdowns, made from completely organic ingredients.  Slowly eat the candy, and wait for the surprise volcanic chocolate center that oozes deliciousness. Available @ deliciousorganics.com

Natural Candy Store
Try their Organic Trick or Treat Candy Mix, which include an assortment of over a hundred pieces of individually wrapped candies.  This bag of goodies, priced at $19.99, contains mixed fruit lollipops, Root Beer float candy, raspberry chocolate filled candy, and cinnamon rocks.  All candies are USDA certified organic, so you can feel good handing these to your trick-or-treaters.

Yummy Earth
Their Organic Lollipops come in 14 assorted flavors, including wetface watermelon, mango tango, tooberry blueberry, and pomegranate pucker.  Not only are they delicious, but they are certified organic, gluten-free, allergen-free, and completely vegan.  $7.99  (about 70 lollipops) and received free shipping @ yummyearth.com.

This year, be sure to try some of these alternatives to your typical treats, and have a Happy Halloween – be safe, healthy and green.  And don’t forget to have fun!

previously on altCon – Happy HallowGreen

scare yourself green this halloween (10.21.08)