Fair Trade Coffee For A Better Planet

By Milly B Stephens

So much of what we love comes from distant countries, harvested by people we hardly think of. They may endure poor working conditions, lack education, even be forced into labor as children. Injury results from long hours without proper sustenance or safety measures, and often no program exists to support those who lose a limb or an eye to this low payed job. Products to watch include coffee, chocolate and tea among many others. Fair trade coffee attempts to reverse this cycle of exploitation through a set of rigidly established regulations.

When we purchase fair trade beans we make a commitment to individuals. The line is drawn, indicating that minimum prices for beans should be paid, nothing lower than it costs to harvest them. This discrepancy leaves workers impoverished, liable to sicken, and unable to escape their situation through poor health, injury and lack of education.

Fair trade organizations do their best to put a stop to these horrific situations. They set a minimum price for coffee beans, ensuring that companies receive a profit for the beans they produce. Committed employees from fair trade organizations also go right into farming communities to implement programs to grow organic products or help workers establish their own business, such as those strictly for women.

Coffee producing parts of the world already suffer from poverty, lack of education and a high instance of certain labor related injuries. Without the provision of laws to support these people when they lose a hand or an eye thanks to a work incident, their situation worsens still further. Countries involved in coffee bean production include Ethiopia, Guatemala and Mexico. Others are Indonesia, Sumatra and Peru.

Consumers can force the hand of companies that turn a blind eye to labor practices. They can purchase fair trade only, and turn their back on anything which does not meet their ethical standards. They have more power than they realize.

Consider getting your friends and relatives together and seeing what happens if you all change your drinking habits, adopting a different coffee shop as your main point of purchase. You should have easy access to information about products served wherever you drink. Absence of labeling and a cheap product are signs that your previous preference did not meet your standards.

The fair trade symbol will grace the products you are looking for. This makes finding it on grocery shelves easy. On-line shopping enables consumers to explore the range of choices and even find gifts for similarly concerned friends and family. Fill a gift basket with only ethically purchased goodies and sleep more easily.

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About The Author
Writer Milly B Stephens talks about getting the best coffee machines available. Bean to cup makers are easy to buy online, but fair trade coffee requires knowledge before you purchase, so take your time.