Why Should You Buy Fair Trade Coffee?

Why should you buy fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate? Well, because you are a good person, of course! If you are reading this article you are probably already socially conscious and want to do your part to help the environment and farmers. Buying fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate is one way to do those things.

The "fair trade" stamp on fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate means several things. First, it means that the farmers who grew the coffee beans, tea leaves or cocoa beans were paid a fair price for their crops. Some companies pay farmers less than the cost of production for their coffee beans thereby leaving farmers to live in poverty. To be fair trade certified, a company must pay farmers at least $1.26 per pound of coffee. Second, to be called fair trade coffee, the coffee bean farmers must work in conditions that are "fair". This fairness includes the strict prohibition of child labor. It also means that working conditions should be safe. Third, there should be direct trade between the coffee farmers and the coffee companies, eliminating a costly middle man. Coffee farmers can create production groups that sell to coffee companies and thereby keep profits for their farms and their families. The profits from fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate are (and should be) used in a way that farmers feel best to strengthen communities with better education, better resources and organic certification.

The environment is helped by the sales of fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate. Farmers are encouraged to use their profits to attain organic certification. The chemicals used on agriculture are harmful to humans and to the environment. Overtime, these chemicals affect the health of farmers and their families as well as ecosystems. By becoming organic certified, farmers are producing a better, healthier product for you and preserving their own health and the environment. It's a win, win, win situation, all for merely a few dollars more from you.

Fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate are available in the United States from several companies. For fair trade coffee, there is Starbucks, of course. Other fair trade coffee companies include: Intelligentsia Coffee (the Tres Santos is lovely, so give it a try!), Seattle's Best (easily found in your local grocery store.), Millstone (Folger's brand and the only Folger's coffee that is fair trade certified.) and several other smaller coffee companies. Certain McDonald's restaurants in New England sell fair trade coffee, also. This is a big step for a giant corporation.

Just by switching your morning cup of coffee to a fair trade coffee you are doing something for the environment and for farmers. If you want to take it further (and I hope you will) try fair trade chocolate, tea, vanilla, herbs, fresh fruit, sugar and rice. These fair trade items contribute in the same way as fair trade coffee to a better world.