In an effort to raise awareness for Fair Trade Certified chocolate, Chad and Amy Lyon of Shakopee will go door-to-door like traditional trick-or-treaters with their 5-month-old son, Wyatt, but instead of accepting candy, they’ll be giving out the treats.

In its second year, the twist on Halloween known as Reverse Trick-or-Treating involves passing out a piece of fairly traded chocolate that is accompanied by a card informing recipients of poverty and child labor problems in the cocoa industry. The card tells how those problems affect mainstream candy enjoyed at Halloween and throughout the year, and how Fair Trade Certified chocolate provides a solution.

"Wyatt is too young to eat chocolate, but we still wanted to take him trick-or-treating, so when I heard about Reverse Trick-or-Treating, I thought it would be a perfect option for us," said Amy Lyon. "Chocolate and candy are at the center of Halloween. I would never take that away from my son or any other children, but I don’t approve of the actions that some major chocolate manufacturers take to keep their prices low."

Armed with a sack full of Fair Trade chocolate, the Lyons will hit the streets of Shakopee in the early evening hours of Oct. 31 entertaining a pirate theme.

"Dad will be a pirate, mom will be the treasure and Wyatt will perch atop dad’s shoulder as a parrot," said Amy. "I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited for Halloween!"

The Lyons aren’t out to force change upon people with their Fair Trade chocolate, but they are taking every opportunity to raise awareness teach their son about best practices.

"We’re trying to make small changes in our life that will make it easier to teach Wyatt about sustainability so that it comes naturally for him," Amy said, "like catching our rainwater in rain barrels to water the lawn, composting our food waste into nutrient-rich soil for the garden, using CFL light bulbs and turning lights off when we leave the room."

Reverse Trick-or-Treating gained attention last year when Global Exchange announced its latest campaign to help transform the international cocoa industry.

According to Global Exchage, "Parents of last year's youngest participants raved about how Reverse Trick-or-Treating transformed Halloween into a meaningful event when youth can give back to their neighbors and to cocoa growing communities."

For more information on Reverse Trick-or-Treating visit www.reversetrickortreating.org.