Fair Trade Coffee Facts

Buying a jar of coffee beans is easy for us, shell out a few dollars and you are good to go. This drink truly makes the most widely consumed beverage across the globe! With coffee being so popular the most that we know about it, is the power packed taste and energy that it gets you kicked with!

And? Well...It is made from coffee beans, that are grown in certain parts of the world. And that's it. Most of us will not know beyond this about coffee. In this article, we talk about the commercial aspect of it. With United States being the largest consumer of coffee in the world, have we thought from where this abundant supply sources?

Most of this coffee comes from Africa, Caribbean Island, and Asia. So, that is the geographical aspect of coffee production. Well yes, it is, but another aspect that is often suppressed or not known globally is the workers or farmers that grow coffee in these regions.

The conditions of workers and farmers in these regions is alarmingly poor and poverty stricken. Imagine the fresh brew of rich coffee beans, is actually the effort produced by farmers, who do not get paid even half worth the effort. The reason being the middlemen and brokers, that sell coffee in the market, with high profits, while leaving the first string of production, that is the farmers, living in poverty and debt. Now this is the real face behind each pound of coffee that is sold in the market. Which is definitely unjust and unfair.

Taking consideration of this situation there has been a revolution in the method of trade of coffee. It is known as 'fair trade'. This is a concept designed by certain organizations, that believe and want to give the producers of coffee a fair reward for their effort. So what is fair trade exactly? This is an organization that has regularized the 'fair trade certification' on coffee. That means the farmers will also have a fair share in the profit that is made out of selling it in the market. This is a revolutionary move and more about the fair trade market of coffee is discussed in the facts below, let's take a look.

Most of the organizations across the globe have appreciated the effort of fair trade, in the sector of coffee production and marketing. There are few pointers that will help us understand these better.

☞ History of fair trade coffee dates back to the 1940s where the movement was initiated. However in 1988, when there was an extreme drop in the price of this amazing beverage, and this movement was started in Netherlands first.

☞ Certain fair trade organizations collaborate and work with small scale farmers, which have formed co-operations. The partnership terms are based on equal and fair terms. The main focus is to eliminate the brokers and the middle men, so that a direct contact can be firmed into a bridge between the consumers and the producers. Due to this, there can be improvement in the profit and wages of the farmers, as more part of the consumers money will directly go to the farmers. This improves the conditions of the farmers and also encourages healthy farming.

☞ Among the fair trade facts, an important one is that, on every pound of coffee imported, there is a fixed price of $1.26, that is irrespective of the current market price, that the importer has to pay. This is a part of the certification of fair trade. As per the rules, the importer, has to pledge in writing, about willing to pay this as minimum price for a pound of coffee. The certification also terms that the purchaser has to provide credit to the farmers, along with other aids like helping in transition, organic farming, etc.

☞ With this certification, coffee can be sold under the tag of fair trade, with a label stating 'fair trade certified'. If you purchase the fair trade certified coffee, that means, you have purchased a product that abides by the strict regulations, throughout the growing, manufacturing and purchasing, that are fair to both the consumer, producer and to the environment.

☞ Fair trade organizations also collaborate farmers with non profit certifiers, that mediate to create healthy and lasting communication and partnerships. They focus on providing many essentials in terms of education of the farmers for a better yield, new techniques of farming, and certain safety guidelines too.

☞ This eventually encourages healthy farming, and an Eco friendly effort, benefiting the environment. Reason being, small scale farmers do not abuse forest or other land to develop crop, they will make sure they farm in small but mostly organic environment. This awareness and information on fair trade can help get more consumers as, with a wise thought on the whole process, people will only want to buy fair trade products.

☞ The good news is that more and more retailers have become aware of this trade policy and most of them have fair trade coffees in the stores for purchase. A respectable name has been earned by Star bucks with almost 80% of its coffee, being fair trade certified.

Fair trade coffee facts have many more benefits to the list, and most importantly, it is also an effort to reduce child labor and overall poverty. Most of the organizations are impressed with the response and strategy of fair trade policy for coffee. We too, can do little to add up to the smiles on many farmers, toiling to give you the best of coffee each day. And buying coffee with the fair trade label is that small, but most valued effort to the benefit of these farmers.