And Another Fair Trade Article

Another article appeared on Fair Trade coffee and whether it really helps coffee farmers. The article, “Does Fair Trade Coffee Lift Growers Out of Poverty or Simply Ease Our Guilty Conscience?,” showed up on Alternet.org.

It treads familiar ground about the limits of Fair Trade and looks into the issues surrounding the price farmers receive, whether it really reaches them, and if it is all just more about marketing than actually making a concrete difference of the lives of coffee farmers. The article provides good information on how the price breaks down and makes good points about how it all isn’t quite so simple as a monetary transaction between a roaster and a farmer. But is Fair Trade effective?

The fact of the matter is that purchasing Fair Trade helps. Purchasing organic certified helps too. Purchasing Shade-Grown coffee makes a difference. No matter what, paying farmers a higher, more stable price for their coffee will always help. But in many coffee communities, price is just one part of a complex picture.

In most communities, families have been dependent on coffee for generations. They depend on coffee, not because it’s necessarily a dream job, but because they lack the mobility and resources to explore alternatives.

It’s a given that farmers and their families and employees should be receiving a fair price for their product and labor. But equal emphasis needs to be placed on promoting independent development in coffee communities. Working with them to create educational opportunities, improved health care and economic diversification efforts that will spur vibrant communities with greater sovereignty.

Paying a more equitable price is great, but it’s just not enough. Supporting efforts, like those of Coffee Kids’ partners, extends the reach of Fair Trade and makes a true difference. Learn more about our program partners here. And if you would like to support development in coffee-farming communities, please contribute.