Do you love that morning cup of java? Whether you brew your coffee at home or stop at a local coffee shop, please consider supporting Fair Trade as you decide what to purchase:
According to Green America, Fair Trade is a system of exchange that honors producers, communities, consumers, and the environment. It is a model for the global economy rooted in people-to-people connections, justice, and sustainability.
When we support fair trade, we are doing the following:
*Supporting a fair price for products. According to Green America, the price set by the international Fair Trade Labeling Organization is intended to cover the cost of production and to provide a living wage which affords the basics of food, shelter, clothing, education, and medical care. “Importers and retailers are then screened and certified by TransFair USA to ensure that they are paying the Fair Trade price for products. Crafts, apparel and other non-certified products are sold by members of the Fair Trade Federation, businesses committed to the principles of Fair Trade. For these crafts, a living wage is paid in the local context.”
TransFair USA hopes that people will begin to connect the importance of alleviating global poverty as a key step in saving our environment. By engaging small-scale farmers and farm workers in developing countries, they believe this is the green movement in action on a deeper and broader level.
*Investing in people and communities. According to Green America, many Fair Trade producer cooperatives and artisan collectives reinvest their revenues to strengthen their businesses and their communities. In addition, for each Fair Trade product sold, the cooperative receives a set amount of money–called the social premium–which is invested in community development projects democratically chosen by the cooperative. Examples of projects include the building of health care clinics and schools, starting scholarship funds, building housing and providing leadership training and women’s empowerment programs.
*Supporting environmental sustainability. Fair Trade farmers and artisans respect the natural habitat and are encouraged to engage in sustainable production methods. Farmers implement integrated crop management and avoid the use of toxic agrochemicals for pest management. Nearly 85% of Fair Trade Certified™ coffee is also organic.
*Economically empowering small scale producers. Fair Trade supports small scale producers–those that otherwise would not have access to economic mobility. Fair Trade encourages and supports the cooperative system where each producer owns a portion of the business, has equal say in decisions, and enjoys equal returns from the market.
*Promoting and supporting direct trade. Fair Trade importers purchase from Fair Trade cooperatives as directly as possible, eliminating middlemen, and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace. The certification also secures long-term, stable relationships between producers and importers.
*Promoting and supporting fair labor conditions. Workers are guaranteed freedom of association and safe working conditions. Fair Trade also encourages women’s participation in and leadership of cooperatives. Human rights and child labor laws are strictly enforced.
Coffee is not the only Fair Trade category of products in the marketplace–other Fair Trade products include: sugar, bananas, flowers, rice, chocolate, olive oil, cotton, tea, vanilla, wine, sports balls, and crafts! As you begin to pay attention to the Fair Trade certification decal, you’ll discover that Fair Trade items are even beginning to appear in big box stores. But more needs to be done–more products need to be offered in more stores on a consistent basis. We can help that happen by participating in organizations and activities such as Adopt-A-Supermarket. Become an Advocate for Fair Trade. The bottom line IS the bottom line! The more we let our stores know that our patronage is dependent upon the changes we require, the more that change will happen. So get involved! You’ll become part of the growing community of individuals who are acting to “create a market that values the people who make the food we eat and the goods we use.”
According to Green America, here are some ways to get involved in addition to buying fair trade items when you shop:
1. Educate yourself and others about the dozens of national and international Fair Trade products. Learn what they are, where to find them, and more by using Green America’s Guide to Fair Trade.
2. As mentioned above, bring Fair Trade to your local supermarkets. Go to Adopt-A-Supermarket.
3. Make your own Fair Trade town by participating in the campaign to help local and community organizers gain the tools and resources they need to become a fair trade town or city through successful local campaigns. This campaign was launched in the United States in October 2007 and was modeled after Europe’s successful Fair Trade Towns movement. Go to Fair Trade Towns USA to get started.
4. Become a part of Green America’s Fair Trade Alliance. Have your school, workplace, place of worship, or community group sign up to promote Fair Trade. Green America members and friends across the country are getting their communities involved in promoting Fair Trade. Click here to sign up.
5. Find more resources through Green America’s Fair Trade Resources.
DID YOU KNOW…
*U.S. retail sales of Fair Trade Certified coffee grew from less than $50 million in 2000, to nearly $500 million by 2005.
*In one year, a two-cup-a-day drinker of coffee will consume the annual harvest of 18 coffee trees!
*Studies in Columbia and Mexico found 94-97% fewer bird species in large-scale sun-grown coffee than in shade-grown coffee, the predominant growing method of most Fair Trade farmers. Plus, as stated above, almost 85% of the Fair Trade Certified coffee sold in the U.S. is certified organic!
FOR TODAY…I will begin to get involved with bringing more Fair Trade products to my local supermarkets and to my town by getting involved with the organizations and campaigns featured in the links above.
The issue I think a lot of people face with fair trade coffee is that they simply are unclear on what it is. A little education and awareness would go along way toward increasing sales, at least in my opinion.