WHAT IS FAIR TRADE COFFEE?

What is Fair Trade coffee?

If you have ever come across the small “Fair Trade” label on your coffee bag and did not understood what it is for, then the following might just make things a little clearer.

Fair Trade is like a partnership between coffee producers and coffee roasters to provide a living income in return for a quality product.

Products that are Fair trade comes from all over the world but share a common history. Farmers who grow Fair Trade coffee receive a fair price ensuring a better life for their farming families. In addition, their communities and the environment benefits as well.

“Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade…” – WFTO

The WFTO stands for the World Fair Trade Organization and their goal is equity, justice and respect for markets and trade throughout the globe.

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The Fair Trade standards ensure:

Income sustainability and fight against poverty.

Ensuring an equal exchange between growers and importers, as well as better working conditions for the people who grow and harvest our coffee.

Building reasonable partnerships between producers and purchasers.

Coffee growers are paid a Fair Trade Premium which provides a safety net, in case of a priced drop in the coffee industry.
Importers purchase from fair trade producers as directly as possible. This eliminates unnecessary middlemen and empowers the farmers to develop the business capability needed to compete in the marketplace.

Fair labour conditions and community development

On fair trade farms, the workers benefit from freedom of association, safe working conditions and fair salaries.
If the coffee farmers are actually paid fairly, they go home and spend that money throughout their community, bettering the whole system in the process. They can invest in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, healthcare services and quality improvement training.

Environmental sustainability

With fair trade comes the safety of the environment. Harmful chemicals and GMO’s are forbidden. Consequently, this protects the environment, the health of the farmers and it preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.

Even though Fair Trade certification doesn’t currently require organic certification, the two often go hand in hand.

Fair Trade has made a substantial impact on coffee farmers and workers as well as the environment world-wide.
Follow the link Fair Trade Certified, to read more about the impact that Fair Trade has made.

Last year, Fair Trade USA® empowered more than 950,000 farmers and workers in 45 countries across Africa, Asia, Oceania, Latin America, and the Caribbean to reach better terms with their trading partners.

So, when you come across the Fair Trade label on a coffee bag again, be sure that you will be making a positive difference by buying beans that can make the world a better place.

References

• Grounds for Change – Why Fair Trade Coffee