You might not realize it, but that morning cup of coffee is increasingly wearing the “fair trade” label. Often people are not quite sure what is meant by the term fair trade. In all fairness, if that describes you, don’t worry about it. Fair trade is still catching on and is still relatively new in the mass consciousness. Yet, there can be no real doubt that fair trade will continue to grow in popularity. There is just so much global momentum behind the entire movement.
While fair trade can have a somewhat complex definition, in general, it means that industrialized countries adopt trading practices with developing countries that are fairer in nature. Often the goods and crops that receive the most attention are those goods and crops that have had a long history of underpaying workers. Coffee has been such a crop, as have been sugar and chocolate.
In recent years, there has been a simply amazing increase in the amount of fair trade certified goods that have been sold worldwide. In 2008, it is estimated that about $4 billion dollars of goods have been sold globally under the fair trade label. While specifics may vary, one of the key components of fair trade is that there are fewer middlemen involved in the trade process. Hopefully, this means that the farmer or worker responsible for cultivating the crop or product receives a far greater wage for their labor.
More than likely you have seen the “fair trade” term label on coffee that you have purchased or were considering purchasing. It is still fairly common for people to be somewhat confused about what fair trade coffee is and where it comes from. In general, when you see the fair trade label, you know that the coffee you are buying is coffee where those involved in the production of the coffee received a fair wage. Coffee, like sugar, cocoa, chocolate and several other products, has a history of being grown or cultivated in a less than fair environment. The fair trade movement began as an attempt to address this situation of imbalances in equality.
So what can fair trade mean for you? There is a relatively simple and straightforward way to help insure that your purchase of goods such as coffee is done in a fairer fashion. The facts are that fair trade coffee is of exceptional quality and comes from around the world. This means that no matter what bean is your favorite bean, you just might be able to find it wearing the fair trade label. Fair trade organizations are working hard to bring even more products (including more coffee products) to the market under the fair trade label. When buying coffee, consider buying a bag or two that sports that fair trade label and help send the message that you are interested in supporting the core concepts of fair trade. In this way, your cup of coffee will be extra sweet.
Ray Kendall is a self-professed “coffee buff,” and has been drinking coffee since age six. Kendall feels that no comfort food can match the wonderful goodness that is the “magic bean.” Now he drinks coffee organic coffee and writes about drinking coffee whenever he gets the chance.