Welcome to Trade Research Guide
Fair Trade Peoples Stories Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Fair Trade Peoples Stories. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
What is Fair Trade Coffee and Why Should We Buy It?
from: Serge Letaset
Today's society is very familiar with fair trade coffee, yet it is unclear whether the true meaning behind the economic, environmental and social impact of purchasing and drinking it is understood. In order to comprehend the full impact fair trade coffee has on our society, one must learn what it means.
A small number of large corporations around the world control the production, trade, and retailing of goods and services. These large corporations firmly influence free trade, which has become the primary detriment to trading fairly. Through determination, these corporations have successfully convinced the world's governments that loosening trade regulations and breaking down barriers to free trade will result in the rise of workers' wages and benefits with the expanding foreign market.
The competition between large corporations to obtain control over the global market has resulted in reducing their cost by cutting jobs, wages, and benefits to workers. Corporate profits leaving the country rather than being reinvested locally hurts the workforce as well. Government and corporations have written several agreements to protect the intellectual and property rights of corporations. However, agreements to protect workers' rights and the environment have yet to be enforced.
Coffee is a highly traded commodity in the world, second to oil. Over 25 million farmers and their families depend on it for a steady income. The fact that North American consumers pay $4 to $11 a pound for conventional coffee, which is the same coffee that is bought from coffee growers at $.80 per pound, clearly proves the coffee market is unfair. The involvement of the Fair Trade Organization has benefited these growers by helping them earn $1.12 to $1.26 per pound.
The Fair Trade Organization has been able to lower the cost by working directly with democratically run producer associations, worker-owned cooperatives, producers and growers. These efforts have resulted in the farmers and producers joining forces to achieve reduced costs, simplified credit access, fair pricing, fair working conditions and the ability to reinvest in the community.
Purchasing fair trade coffee means that you are giving a 'voice' to the coffee producers and farmers and empowering women and indigenous communities by returning the control of the coffee market into the their hands.
In comparing the cost of fair trade coffee to the traditional coffee, the elimination of the liaison between the growers has made the costs comparable. Even though the distribution costs of fair trade coffee is often higher in price than coffee purchased in the grocery store, the costs are equal to those of most gourmet coffees.
The controversy between corporations concerning equal pay and fair working conditions does not affect the high standards and quality of fair trade coffee. Coffee that is grown for the fair trade market receives a higher recognition in today's market place. This is due to the coffee being developed organically (free from pesticides and herbicides). Consumers benefit from the indefinable reward of knowing their contribution helps the workers to defeat the corporations.
During your next visit to the grocery store, look for the Fair Trade Certified logo. This logo symbolizes that the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), which upholds the fair trade standards by requiring its members to meet strict criteria in order to achieve fair trade status, has licensed the product. Encourage your friends, family, and co-workers to purchase fair trade coffee on their next trip to the market. From the grower to the consumer, we all receive the benefits that fair trade brings to the community.
About The Author
Serge Letaset is the owner of FJ Coffee a premier source of coffee-related information. If you would like to read more of Serge's articles then visit - http://www.fjcoffee.com/articlecoffee/.
Fair Trade Peoples Stories News
It's only fair - Arkansas Democrat Gazette
 Arkansas Democrat Gazette | It's only fair Arkansas Democrat Gazette, AR - "We're all about fair trade and people trying to make a living out of what they do." Asha is a distributor for three Indian companies that employ women out ... |
Panel poised to back Blagojevich impeachment vote - The Associated Press
 USA Today | Panel poised to back Blagojevich impeachment vote The Associated Press - "It's only fair that he be sworn in immediately. This is a no-brainer." Meanwhile, Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, sued the Senate on ... Ex-advisor to panel: Order Blago to get psych evaluation |
Federal Trade Commission To Scrutinize DRM - Slashdot
Federal Trade Commission To Scrutinize DRM Slashdot - There is very little case law protecting consumer fair use with video games, as compared with audio and video. This is a heavy bet on weak prospects. ... |
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News ... - CBS News
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News ... CBS News, NY - There are people under consideration. The person who will make the decision is the governor of New York.’” Maloney also told the NY Times, ... |
Fair Trade Group Hosts Fundraising Concert - NorthumberlandView.ca
Fair Trade Group Hosts Fundraising Concert NorthumberlandView.ca, Canada - ... a concert in support of Fair Trade and Social Justice. The evening will consist of inspirational songs interspersed with brief stories of the people Ten ... |
Tribute to the kyeyo people in town - Daily Monitor
Tribute to the kyeyo people in town Daily Monitor, Uganda - You would think people go there only to trade, and maybe do some other less than moral work. But our man is an electrician, simple. ... |