Students and staff at Siena celebrate, as the school becomes the state's first "fair trade" college. Our Erin Connolly has more on what that really means.

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LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. -- Coffee, chocolate, and apples. Just some of the things students and staff at Siena College will be able to enjoy, knowing they are all fair trade.

Student Lauren LaVare said, ''What it really means to us is we get to grow as a college, we get to show what humanity means to us, connect to people across the globe in a way where we say we're all equal and deserve something better than we're at right now.''

Senior Lauren LaVare was one of the students who spearheaded Siena's efforts to become the first fair trade college in the state, the third to do so in the nation. She says it's about being committed to offering products that support fair pay and working conditions for farmers and producers.

LaVare said, ''The fact is it's not a handout. What this is is an empowering tool. It gives them the ability to set their prices. It cuts out the middle man.''

And the best part about fair trade food is it tastes good too!

Albany County Executive Mike Breslin said, ''You can make a huge difference if you decide to only buy from places where people get fair pay and where there are good working conditions and where children aren't exploited.''

Congressman Paul Tonko said, ''It reinforces the sense of mission on campus of social and economic justice. It allows for everyone to be inspired by the efforts that need to be made by a nation that is a world leader.''

And while becoming a fair trade school is quite an accomplishment, students at Siena say this is just the beginning of becoming a more globally aware community.

LaVare said, ''This is just one step further for us. It's such a small step, but it's a gateway for us to say, what else can we do?''