Posted August 24, 2014 8:45 am by Tony Hogarth
Have you ever wondered where exactly the coffee beans that you brew each morning come from? We are very conscious of the importance of using and selling fair trade beans but what exactly does it mean?
What is Fair Trade?
Fair trade is a type of economic system that benefits both the consumers and the producers. It connects the two parties in an equal, meaningful and sustainable manner. The Fair trade movement was founded on seven basic principles created by the Fair Trade Federation. These principles are as follows:
Fair Wages
Each producer who participates in the fair trade industry, will receive fair wages to help them and their families survive. This doesn’t mean that the fair trade products are more expensive though. Fair trade organizations often bypass the middleman that big corporations employ, so they are able to cut costs and form lasting relationships with their consumers.
Cooperative Workplaces
Fair trade organizations are often small businesses that are run by families or small associations. This helps bring money to the whole community, and benefits all of the workers.
Consumer Education
All fair trade organizations strive to educate consumers about the importance of purchasing fair trade products that support both fair wages and healthy working conditions.
Environmental Sustainability
The world’s ecosystem is in a precarious condition right now, and fair trade organizations understand the importance of producing products in environmentally sustainable ways.
Financial and Technical Support
Many small-scale farmers and artisans around the world lack the funds they need to start a business, but fair trade federation members help provide them with financial and technical support by buying their products. They also offer assistance to the producers whenever necessary.
Respect for Cultural Identity
Fair trade organizations help producers create products that are unique to their culture and adapt them to the Western market.
Public Accountability
The finances of the Fair Trade Federation members are open to the public, which gives them a sense of accountability at all times.
Benefits of Fair Trade Coffee
The benefits of fair trade businesses are truly endless. The farmer, consumer and the environment all benefit greatly.
- Fair trade coffee farmers often receive increases in their annual income, which helps them stay out of debt, build their business’s infrastructure, and become self-sufficient.
- The consumer benefits from buying fair trade by empowering the farmers, taking part in a social justice movement surrounding economic trade, and by positively impacting the lives of coffee farmers and their families around the world.
- Finally, the environment also benefits greatly from the fair trade movement. Small farmers utilize organic farming methods, which are more environmentally friendly and sustainable than using pesticides. They also disperse their plants all throughout their region, to help enrich the soil with nutrients.
- Overall, fair trade businesses offer sustainable models for doing business which look out for the interests of all parties involved.
Now that you know all about fair trade coffee, the next time you reach for your morning cup of Joe, grab a cup from the little guys. You can get started by going to our Fair Trade Coffee page for all the brands we can guarentee are ethically sourced. This list will grow and change as we work hard to ensure the ethical source of our beans.