| ver possible you should look for coffee beans that | | | | Trade Federation is an association of businesses that |
| are fair trade. The fair trade coffee movement has | | | | follow fair trade principles and their logo ensures that |
| been seeing steady growth in the last decade. Many | | | | the coffee company is committed to the highest fair |
| savvy consumers are demanding fair trade options | | | | trade standards. For a product to carry a Fair Trade |
| which is forcing large coffee retailers to take notice. | | | | label it must be inspected and certified by Fair Trade |
| Since the onset of the global financial crisis in late | | | | Labeling Organizations International. This group |
| 2008, coffee prices have plunged but the prices | | | | currently operates in over 70 countries has over 800 |
| most people pay in the United States has not | | | | producer organizations working in its vast Fair Trade |
| changed. The large coffee suppliers and retailers have | | | | coffee network. |
| simply pocketed the difference. | | | | In addition to Fair Trade coffee, other agricultural |
| Fair Trade means a fair partnership between the | | | | products are also certified by the Fair Trade |
| coffee farmers and the large companies that market | | | | Federation, including: bananas, tea, sugar, chocolate, |
| the products in lucrative North American and | | | | honey, wine, flowers and cocoa. In 2008, Fair Trade |
| European markets. The system works to guarantee | | | | certified sales amounted to slightly more than US $1 |
| that low-income farmers in coffee growing countries | | | | billion worldwide, a 22% increase from year-to-year. |
| earn a livable wage for their daily labor. | | | | This still remains a fraction of the estimated US |
| To be certified as fair trade, these conditions must | | | | $70-80 billion global coffee industry. However, the |
| be met: | | | | impact in the lives of farmers is huge, with Fair Trade |
| -A fair wage is paid to the coffee grower, which | | | | Labeling Organizations International estimating that |
| covers not only the cost of production but also | | | | over 7.5 million coffee producers and their families are |
| enables them to have money left over to live well. | | | | benefiting from fair trade programs, technical |
| -Employees must be offered opportunities for | | | | assistance and community development projects. |
| advancement | | | | When you buy a $1 or $2 cup of coffee at a coffee |
| -Farmers must engage in environmentally sustainable | | | | shop, how much do you think ends up in a |
| practices | | | | grower’s pocket? Not nearly as much as |
| -Coffee plantations must provide healthy and safe | | | | you’d think. In fact, the amount of coffee |
| working conditions. | | | | required for a medium-sized cup probably only cost |
| -Children and women are protected from exploitation. | | | | the coffee shop about $0.06. The grower of the |
| -The relationship between the coffee growers and | | | | coffee receives less than 1% of the price of that |
| the companies that purchase their coffee must be | | | | coffee – which amounts to about $0.006. So, |
| fair, balanced and financially transparent so it can be | | | | next time you have a cup of coffee that |
| properly monitored. | | | | isn’t fair trade, think of that. But by choosing |
| Fair trade products can be identified by a | | | | companies that sell Fair Trade coffee products you |
| “Fair Trade Certified” label or the seal | | | | can ensure a fair price is being paid to the growers. |
| of approval from the Fair Trade Federation. The Fair | | | | |