‘Fair Trade’ is the description given to coffee that is part of a network of companies and individuals who believe that coffee farmers should receive a higher percentage of profit for their crop. ‘Fair Trade’ is a certification process that is monitored by a third-party to ensure that members are following the rules.  Becoming a ‘Fair Trade’ partner costs the coffee farmer money to join—sometimes more than he can afford. Some companies (such as Starbucks) help these farmers in other ways by building clinics and libraries for their communities.  But their coffee cannot be sold as ‘Fair Trade’ without the certification. Other coffee retailers have similar programs are beneficial to the coffee farmer and their families.

Historically coffee farmers have had little control on how much money their beans would fetch ‘at market’. Coffee beans are often sold to middlemen (known as coyotes in South America) who make huge profits at the expense of the coffee farmers. These farmers are exploited by being forced to sell their beans for dirt cheap, often taking a loss on their crop. An estimated 25 million coffee-producing families still cannot rely on a decent income.  Many families give up and turn north to the ‘land of opportunity’.

Perhaps you can think of ‘Fair Trade’ as one solution to this country’s ‘immigration problem’. Most people who migrate here would rather live in their homeland—only if they could survive there.  When we use ‘Fair Trade’ we empower the coffee farmers to make their own decisions.  They can begin to take pride in their communities and do things to make them safer, healthier, and educated.

Take, for example, an experiment by one Presbyterian pastor who, with about $20,000 helped launch “Just Coffee”—an organization that works with a group of coffee farmers from Southern Mexico. Coffee beans are picked and shipped to Douglas, AZ where they are roasted, packaged, and shipped worldwide. Within just a few years of operation, the “Just Coffee” community has become self-sufficient—it even has health care for its families.

Many of the coffee beans grown for ‘Fair Trade’ are organically grown. Pesticides are expensive, and, quite frankly, I don’t care for the taste. Besides, who knows what is being sprayed on a crop? Well, whatever it is it can’t be all that great for you. In addition to being organically grown, many ‘Fair Trade’ coffees are ‘Shade Grown’. Many larger coffee plantations ‘clear-cut’ large areas of land—this is neither beneficial to the taste of the coffee, nor to the migratory birds whose habitat is lost.  So, if you can’t tell if the coffee you buy is ‘Fair Trade’, at least try organically grown or shade grown.

The members of the Outreach committee aren’t asking you to give up your regular coffee, but we want you to know why it is important to us to serve ‘Fair Trade’ coffee during the fellowship time. It must have some importance to the church, for it is stated in  The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church (paragraph 163D) that “buying ‘Fair Trade Certified’ products is one sure way consumers can use their purchasing power to make a contribution to the common good.”

‘Fair Trade’ coffee may be purchased locally at BJ’s Coffee and Fred Meyer. Organic/shade grown and other coffees that have programs to benefit coffee farmers are available at Safeway, Winco, Grande Foods, Starbucks, and other local locations.  Several companies also offer their coffee through the Internet—see links below.

·         Global Exchange

·         Equal Exchange

·         Café Campesino

·         Peace Coffee                                                         

·         Dean's Beans

·         Larry's Beans

·         HIgher Grounds Trading Co.

·         Café Mam (Royal Blue Organics)

·         Just Coffee

·         Higher Ground Roasters

·         Fair Trade Coffee Co.

·         Grounds for Change

·         Intelligent Nutrients

·         Cafe Canopy

·         Pura Vida Coffee Company

·         Morning Glory Coffee and Tea

·         Coffee-Tea-Etc.

·         Nectar of Life