Fair Trade - Who Profits from your Coffee?
Many of us hear the term “fair trade” without really knowing what it means. And for those who do, we may only know it on a cursory level. One thing to always keep in mind: there’s always a story behind every product you use or food you consume or article of clothing you wear. The more you know, the better your choices can become.
You may be seeing the term “fair trade” when you purchase your coffee. If you’re confused about it’s meaning, here’s some help from Global Exchange:
Fair Trade means an equitable and fair partnership between consumers in North America and producers in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The chief concern of the Fair Trade movement has been to ensure that the vast majority of the world’s coffee farmers (who are small holders) get a fair price for their harvests in order to achieve a decent living wage. Fair Trade guarantees to poor farmers organized in cooperatives around the world: a living wage (minimum price of $1.26/pound regardless of the volatile market); much needed credit at fair prices; and long term relationships. These fair payments are invested in health care, education, environmental stewardship, and economic independence. Fair Trade Certified coffee is the first product being introduced in the United States with an independently monitored system to ensure that it was produced under fair labor conditions; now we need a movement to demand it!!
Think about that the next time you purchase your coffee. We can make educated choices now that benefit the people who need and deserve it. There are over 100 companies that have licensing agreements to offer Fair Trade Certified coffee. Major roasters include Starbucks, Tully’s, Peet’s, Equal Exchange, Diedrich, and Green Mountain, serving over 7,000 retail locations, with volumes rising every day.
Thank you for this, but folks need to know that for some coffee roasters only 1% of their beans are Fair Trade, and for others its 100%.
For example, at Starbucks its about 10%, and most of those beans are sold in the UK. In the US Starbucks cafes you have to insist on their “Cafe Estima” blend.
Others, like Green Mt, have converted about 30% of their volume to Fair Trade. Be sure it says “Fair Trade” on the package.
And finally, some like ourselves - Equal Exchange - are 100% Fair Trade.
Further, a very few coffee companies, including Equal Exchange, have the same egalitarian, democratic co-operative business structure that the Fair Trade farmers use. In contrast most companies selling Fair Trade coffee are conventional businesses, with a conventional management and ownership structure.
The fair payments are invested in health care, education, environmental stewardship, and economic independence. This helps to improve the economy
The fair payments are invested in health care, education, environmental stewardship, and economic independence. This helps to improve the economy.