Fair Trade Coffee: Is it Worth the Extra Money?
You wake up at the crack of dawn, make your coffee and rush out the door. You’re running late for the business presentation you stayed up all night practicing for. The only thing that is keeping you going is your hot cup of joe. After you finish your cup of coffee you go about your day, freely and happily. Unfortunately, that is not the case for the farmer that grew your coffee. While you are able to enjoy your morning caffeine for a low price, your farmer is working tirelessly to grow a crop that will earn less than $1 per pound of coffee grown. In Uganda alone, coffee farmers only make $88 per year from the coffee they grow. That is less than most of us spend in a couple of days on food.
You can make a positive impact on the environment and the lives of those in developing countries with the power of your dollar. Whether you’re buying coffee or another product, it requires no extra time, effort, or thought. All you have to do is buy fair trade certified products.
Why Buying Fair Trade is Important:
In developing countries, family farmers grow food that we eat every day. Yet, many of them do not receive a fair price for their harvest. Rural farming communities aren’t connected to the global market and can get manipulated by middlemen who buy their crops for below-average prices. Over time family farms won’t be able to sustain themselves. This leads to poverty and forces them to abandon their land and causes the downfall of communities that are rich in culture. You might be asking how this impacts the world on a larger scale. Families immigrate to seek a better future for their families. Immigration puts strain on other countries' resources. We experience lower quality products. There is also an uptick in reliance on unsustainable farming methods. Fair trade brings attention to the fact that many farmers struggle to make money and growing certain crops can be risky. It looks to ensure that farmers get paid above the base commodity price for their harvest.
What Does it Mean for a Product to be Fair Trade:
- Farmers receive a fair price for their harvest that matches the global market
- Farmers market their harvest to international buyers to create long-term contracts to compete and sell their products in the global market
- Products go through testing to make sure it meets labor and sustainability standards
- Farmers are certified so consumers know they are getting high-quality products that are ethically sourced
Other Benefits of Buying Fair Trade:
- Allows families to live a higher quality of life by being able to afford education and healthcare
- Gives power back to the farmer allowing them to grow their business and not have to rely on outside aid
- Benefits the consumer, producer, and the earth because they use sustainable farming practices
- Farmers protect the land and wildlife by planting species that improve soil which also helps protect against erosion
- Prohibits forced child labor and there are better working conditions
- Farmers give back to the community by investing in scholarships, healthcare services, and training
It’s critical to invest in fair trade products because they will benefit the global market in the long run and keep cultural communities intact. It gives the farmers more power and freedom but it also gives consumers a higher quality product. We all want products that satisfy our wants and needs. You can meet those wants and needs and give back just by putting your dollar towards fair trade products. All you have to do is look for this label the next time you buy coffee!
