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Organic Coffee
Much of fair trade coffee is organically grown. This means the coffee is grown and produced without the use of any chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides. In other words, the coffee is grown in nature without chemical intervention.
Organic practices require the farmer to view the farm as a working ecosystem. Techniques such as composting, terracing, and natural pest controls are required. Small-scale farmers tend to use these traditional farming techniques that have been passed down over generations. These methods of production are more beneficial to the environment, produce less waste, and maintain the natural wildlife refuges of the trees.
The Many Benefits of Organics
For the health conscious, chemical free products are healthier for the human body and contain all natural products. Interestingly, organic issues related to the consumption of coffee are a bit different than with most other foods or beverages. Your choice of organic coffee over conventional coffee is really a vote for the farmer's health and the health of the environment in developing countries. Why? Most experts agree that the chemicals found on raw coffee are burned off during the roasting process. We hope that this information makes you even more committed to supporting organics.
For the environmentalist, organic products keep dangerous chemicals out of the environment and maintain the natural balance of ecosystems. Furthermore, organic farming employs many positive environmental practices such as recycling and composting and helps maintain soil health through natural methods.
For the social justice advocate, organic coffee sells at a higher premium which increases the farmer's income and standard of living. Organic farming also protects the farmer and his community from unnecessary exposure to chemicals.
For the farmer, organic farming makes the land healthier and the soil more fertile, which increases both quality and quantity over the years. In addition it decreases the farmers exposure to the toxic chemicals.
For the community around the farm, organic farming decreases the amount of chemicals released into the atmosphere and drinking water supply, decreasing health and environmental risks.
The Power of Choosing Organics
By only choosing coffee that is grown and produced in environmentally responsible ways, you are helping to better sustain our planet. You are making a statement that the preservation of our environment is an important factor in decisions that you make, even in regards to what coffee you drink. By supporting the small farmer's approach to sustainable farming, you encourage this practice and the employment of better farming methods.
By purchasing organically grown coffee you are benefiting your own health, the health of farmers, and their communities. You help preserve and maintain the natural balance in our ecosystem and increase the standard of living for the farmers. You also make a statement that chemical-free alternatives are a better option and increase demand and supply of organic alternatives.
Remember you can change the world, one great cup of coffee at a time!
The Fair Trade Way
Fair trade is more than a stamp of approval, it is more than a catchy phrase. The concept of fair trade requires — demands — that you think! Fair trade is about making conscious choices to care about and act on more than a low price or convenience. Fair trade begs you to ask questions: Who made or grew this product? Who or what was affected by the production process?
Fair traders are required to consider the social, economic and environmental impact of their actions. The result is a system of trade based on respect for worker's rights and the environment. It is dedicated to helping reverse the environmental degradation and growing inequities that have been a result of the growth in world trade as we now know it.
According to the Fair Trade Federation there are seven principles to fair trade. Fair Wages, Cooperative Workplaces, Consumer Education, Environmental Sustainability, Financial and Technical Support, Respect for Cultural Identity, and Public Accountability.
Why buy fair trade?
What is fair trade?
Who benefits?
What are the issues?
When you sit back with your favorite cup of java, do you ever consider the process that went into bringing it to you? The crop to cup process of coffee is a fascinating one that has many implications that you may never think of. Take a moment to investigate some of those issues more deeply.
Did you ever think that your choice of coffee could have drastic effects on the environment, economic and social justice systems of this world? Did you ever realize that our daily consumption habits could help raise a family out of poverty, add years of life to a farmer, help educate children and build infrastructure in disadvantaged communities? Well it can! Read on.
Why Buy Fair Trade?
Fairly traded coffee benefits many: from farmers in producer countries to consumers to the environment and to all of us by the benefits achieved through fair trade practices. As a system of trade based on respect for worker's rights and the environment, fair trade can help reverse the environmental degradation and growing inequities that have been a result of the growth in world trade as we now know it.
By taking the simple step of buying only fairly traded coffee, you send a signal to others that this is the best form of trade. More importantly, your purchase directly benefits the poor farmers and their families while making a positive environmental impact.
It is a simple choice, and a small step that has so many benefits and one that sends a signal to others to get involved and make a difference. This is one decision that you can know has direct results on many people. Won't you choose to have a clean conscience when you take your next sip of coffee?Top of section
Top of page What is Fair Trade?
Fair trade connects producers and consumers in more equitable, more meaningful and more sustainable ways. Fair Trade is based on seven principles as quoted by the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), the largest association of fair trade organizations.
Fair Wages — Paying fair wages does not necessarily mean that products cost the consumer more. Since Fair Trade Organizations bypass exploitative middlemen and work directly with producers, they are able to cut costs and return a greater percentage of the retail price to the producers.
Cooperative Workplaces — Fair Trade Organizations work primarily with small businesses, worker-owned and democratically run cooperatives and associations that bring significant benefits to workers and their communities.
Consumer Education — Fair Trade Organizations educate consumers about the importance of purchasing fairly traded products which support living wages and healthy working conditions.
Environmental Sustainability — Fair Trade Organizations encourage producers to engage in environmentally friendly practices which manage and use local resources sustainably.
Financial and Technical Support — Small-scale farmers and artisans in the developing world lack access to affordable financing, impeding their profitability. FTF members that buy products directly from producers often provide financial assistance either through direct loans, prepayment, or by linking producers with sources of financing.
Respect for Cultural Identity — Fair Trade Organizations encourage the production and development of products based on producers' cultural traditions adapted for Western markets.
Public Accountability — FTF members' finances, management policies, and business practices are open to the public and monitoring by the Fair Trade Federation.Top of section
Top of page Who Benefits from Fair Trade?
The Farmer — Fair trade increases annual incomes of small farmers. Fair trade helps put in place tools for self-sufficiency. Fair trade assists small farmers to stay out of high interest debt. Fair trade helps build infrastructure in the farmer's community.
The Consumer — Fair trade lets consumers have a clear conscience about their purchases. Fair trade lets consumers assist and empower others with their buying power. Fair trade lets consumers be part of a social justice movement through a simple action. Fair trade allows consumers to intiate a chain of responses that will positively impact the lives of poor coffee farmers and their families.
The Environment — Small farmers use organic methods, which are more environmentally friendly and sustainable. Small farmers disperse their plants throughout a region, a more environmentally friendly method. Small farmers plant shade grown coffee which is key to protecting certain species of birds. The existence of small farmers helps prevent the clear-cutting of larger estates.Top of section
Top of page What Are the Issues?Fair Trade and Social Justice
"Before, life was very hard for us, mainly because we could never get a decent price for our coffee. Now we have our own expert co-op and we sell to the fair trade market. We have bought mules to carry the heavy coffee sacks down the mountainside, instead of using our backs. Fair trade gives us a fair price and access to credit. It also gives us dignity. We are treated as equals."
Santiage Rivera, Coffee farmer (Somoto, Nicaragua)
Courtesy of Transfair USA
Helping Families
Perhaps the most tangible benefits of fair trade are seen in the changes in the lives of the coffee farmers and their families. Fair trade helps to give the farmers economic independence and empowers them through the formation of cooperatives.
Before forming cooperatives in coffee farming, small farmers were forced to sell their harvests to local middlemen ("coyotes") who frequently give as little as $0.30 for a pound of coffee that sells in the United States for over $8.00. The small farmers were caught in a viscious cycle because they lacked access to credit, marketing, and know-how. Year after year they are forced to sell to the coyotes. The farmers found themselves struggling year after year to meet the basic needs of food, housing, healthcare, and education. Frequently, these basic needs would go unmet.
With fair trade coffee this cycle is broken when small farmers organize themselves into cooperatives and sell their coffee for a "fair price" which they are guaranteed. As a result of these cooperatives, farmers find themselves empowered and able to build economic independence. The cooperatives improve access to technical and credit assistance, giving the farmers the know-how they need to be more independent. In addition, the cooperatives help build infrastructure, increase production, and improve the standard of living for the farmers (some have more than doubled their annual incomes — according to Transfair USA). The added revenue streams also help build schools, provide more access to healthcare, and better transportation.
The Rodriquez' — An example of this change can be seen the in lives of Miguel and Laura Rodriguez, members of PRODECOOP (who produce our Nicaragua coffee). The couple estimates that over the past five years they have more than doubled their income as a result of fair trade. Fair trade has helped them keep their daughter Rosa Maria (age 11) in school long past the age where she normally would have to start working in the fields (Transfair USA).
Helping Communities
Fair trade revenues help build schools, healthcare centers, new communications systems, credit programs, technical training programs, and better transportation. All of these improvements raise the standard of living of the whole community, not just those directly involved with fair trade. These improvements also increase production and help assure financial stability and self-sufficiency.
According to Transfair USA, more than 555,000 farmers and their families benefit from coffee sales through the fair trade network of over 300 farmer cooperatives. Clearly fair trade is having a positive impact on communities throughout the world. Each time you chose to drink fair trade coffee or buy fair trade products, you are contributing to that progress and helping individuals and communities throughout the world.
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