The Coffee Review - the world's leading coffee buying guide (#)

„Fair-trade coffee, the subject of this month's cupping, is one of these hopeful solutions, a relatively new one that has provoked some controversy among coffee professionals. To simplify, the fair-trade movement determines a formula for a "fair" price for coffee paid to farmers, a price that will make no one rich but which will help subsistence farmers avoid absolute misery. The certifying agency, in this case TransFair USA, also confirms that the farmers who receive this fair price are small holders organized in democratically run cooperatives who follow positive environmental practices. The modest premium paid the farmers according to the fair-trade formula is passed on through the system to coffee lovers, who presumably will happily pay a couple of pennies more per cup, given how much those pennies help struggling farmers.The controversy mainly focuses on whether paying people for coffee on the basis of formula and democratic organization rather than on the basis of quality is wise in the long run.“

http://www.coffeereview.com/article.cfm?id=8 - Cached

Global Exchange : Starbucks Campaign (#)

„As aresult, on October 4 Starbucks introduced whole bean Fair TradeCertified coffee at over 2,300 stores, which brought the number ofFair Trade outlets to almost 5,000 nationwide (it's currently over7,500). This is an amazing testament to the power of grassroots FairTrade activism and the real concrete changes that citizens can make inglobal trade system when we demand products made under fair laborconditions. This was achieved because of the pressure of our grassroots campaign , including 84organizations that signed an OpenLetter to Starbucks as well as 29 national demonstrations that were planned acrossthe country. Still, people should know that there is no guarantee thatcoffee without the Fair Trade seal is not sweatshop coffee.“

http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/coffee/ starbucks.html - Cached

Transfair USA | Fair Trade News (#)

„If Van Orman's customers and a recent survey are any indication, retailer attempts to make the link for its customers between fair-trade coffee and other fairly traded foods will not be difficult. According to Steve French, managing partner of the Natural Marketing Institute in Harleysville, Pa., consumers already are getting the heads up on fair-trade. In NMI's 2003 LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) consumer trends study, 51 percent of the 2,000 general population respondents said that fair trade-certified ingredients were very or somewhat important in their purchase of a particular product.“

http://www.transfairusa.org/content/about/ n_0309.php - Cached

The Coffee Review - the world's leading coffee buying guide (#)

„Fair-Trade certification, for those who have not been paying attention, guarantees that farmers have been paid a formula-determined "fair" or economically sustainable price for their coffee, and that most of the Fair-Trade premium makes it back to the farmers who actually perform the work growing the coffee. From what I have observed, the national and international organizations that organize and monitor Fair-Trade certification make efficient and transparent use of the small part of the premium that supports their activities on behalf of the farmers.“

http://www.coffeereview.com/article.cfm?id=93 - Cached

Fairtrade | Publications | Fair Comment | Autumn 2002 (#)

„The new label is international and represents the global vision of the Fairtrade system. Until now there have been seven different marks used across the 17 countries that make up FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International). The launch of the new FAIRTRADE Mark means that now there is just one label. The system has always been global, now the FAIRTRADE Mark is too.“

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/fc-aut02a.htm - Cached

Tea & Coffee 11/01 - The Fair Trade Ideal: The Ultimate Answer For Sustainability? (Cont) (#)

„It may also provide a cache to the roasters and retailers that carry the Fair Trade imprimatur on their goods. The Fair Trade label can make consumers feel that without much effort they can change the world one cup at a time. These are all positive things, but there is work that needs to be done, and additional fences that need to be mended before a layer of trust can be nurtured between Specialty Coffee and the Fair Traders, before they can, together, attempt to save the world.“

http://www.teaandcoffee.net/1101/special2.htm - Cached

Further Reading and Resources (#)

„A 1 year subscription is only $30, but I am not sure if this is only available for businesses in the tea and coffee trade. I happen to have a large bound-edition, ex-liris collection of these dating back to the 1920s.The Coffee Book by Gregory Dicum discusses why Fair Trade coffees and Organic coffees are worth looking for.Coffee with Pleasure - Just Java and World Trade by Laurie Waridel makes a clear case for the idea of Fair Trade coffee.“

http://www.sweetmarias.com/reading.html - Cached

Transfair USA | Fair Trade News (#)

„While the fair-trade labeling system has produced more concrete results than other efforts to make trade fairer, detractors see it as only a part of the solution. David Zehner, an associate manager at Citigroup, who authored a report on fair-trade coffee, says that the number of eligible farmers will continue to exceed the demand for fair-trade products.“

http://www.transfairusa.org/content/about/ n_0405.php - Cached

TransFair Canada: Make a Difference (#)

„Make Presentation to Administration Find out from the administration who makes the decisions to bring new products into school cafeterias and staff rooms and invite those people to a meeting. Make a formal presentation describing the benefits of Fair Trade Certified. Explain the potential benefits for the school and school board (eg. revenues and learning opportunities about global economics and international development).“

http://www.transfair.ca/en/education/highschool/makeadifference/ - Cached

gepa Fair Trade Company – Fair Trade policy (#)

„By means of harmonization and coordination of Fair Trade activities – especially in the field of information exchange on trading partners, products and marketing issues –, the EFTA members seek to make Fair Trade more effective and efficient.“

http://www.gepa3.de/htdocs_en/fair_trade/ trading_politics.html - Cached

View topic - I found a great new coffee company online!!! - Coffee Forum (#)

„One of the points they make is that the “fair trade program” takes out the middle man, yet they have inserted themselves into the middle of the supply chain. Sort of defeating one of the stated purpose. In every step of the supply chain, they are collecting a small fee based on volume of pounds/kilos of coffee, the higher the volume, the smaller this fee per Lb/K gets.“

http://www.coffeeforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=586 - Cached

TransFair Canada: Make a Difference (#)

„Make the switch Everywhere you live and work, there are places and people who will appreciate the principles of Fair Trade Certified and will act on those principles with you. Ask the administration of your school, university, workplace, community centre or place of worship to use Fair Trade Certified products.“

http://www.transfair.ca/en/products/difference/ - Cached

Amazon.com: Books: The Fair Trade Fraud (#)

„The Fair Trade Fraud is a direct attack on US trade policies and on the principle of political control of trade. James Bovard exposed the political and moral core of protectionism, demonstrating that politicians cannot make trade more fair by making it less free.“

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/ 0312083440?v=glance - Cached

Global Exchange : News Updates (#)

„Is Your Grocery List Politically Correct? -- In the next couple of weeks, pineapples, mangos and grapes bearing "Fair Trade Certified" stickers will start hitting scores of supermarkets nationwide, part of a broader movement to make shoppers feel good about themselves and the food they are buying.“

http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/coffee/ update.html - Cached

How to Participate in the Fair Trade Coffee Project - Lutheran World Relief (#)

„Learn more! Lutheran World Relief offers a variety of educational resources about fair trade as well as promotional materials to make the LWR Coffee Project a success in your parish. “Grounds for Hope,” the LWR Coffee Project video, is also available for loan. Call 1-800-LWR-LWR-2.“

http://www.lwr.org/coffee/coffee4.asp - Cached

The Church of the brethren Coffee Project (#)

„The Church of the Brethren Coffee Project offers a new link between Brethren congregations and people in need in the developing world.  We can reach out to our neighbors overseas with our economic choices as well as our offerings.  Listen to the difference fair trade makes:“

http://www.equalexchange.com/interfaith/ brethrenproject.html - Cached

Tea & Coffee 08/02 - Brewing Justice: Fair Trade Certified Tea in the U.S. (#)

„India, Sri Lanka, East Africa) with private ownership and management distinct from the working population, which resides on and within the estate. Like coffee farmers, tea workers are able to make meaningful improvements in their living standards as a result of Fair Trade.“

http://www.teaandcoffee.net/0802/tea.htm - Cached

Presbyterian Coffee Project (#)

„In addition, for each case of coffee, tea or cocoa purchased through the project, Equal Exchange makes a contribution to the UMCOR Small Farmer Fund which further supports coffee farmers and their families. Listen to the difference fair trade makes:“

http://www.equalexchange.com/interfaith/ umcorproject.html - Cached

LWR Coffee Project (#)

„In addition, for each case of coffee purchased through the project, Equal Exchange makes a contribution to LWR projects with coffee farmers and their families. Listen to the difference fair trade makes:“

http://www.equalexchange.com/interfaith/ lwrproject.html - Cached

MCC Coffee Project (#)

„We can participate in a more just relationship with our neighbors overseas through our economic choices. Listen to the difference fair trade makes:“

http://www.equalexchange.com/interfaith/ mccproject.htm - Cached

Presbyterian Coffee Project (#)

„* Serve fairly traded coffee and tea at church events and during fellowship hour, and make it available to members for home use.“

http://www.pcusa.org/pcusa/wmd/hunger/coffee/ - Cached

Fair Trade Coffee Klatching (INeedCoffee.com) (#)

„First, producer cooperatives are registered and monitored by FLO to make sure members receive the benefit of Fair Trade transactions.“

http://www.ineedcoffee.com/01/08/klatching/ - Cached

BBC - Radio 1 News - Coldplay (#)

„He's been on the road in the back of a van in a dust storm highlighting their campaign Make Trade Fair.“

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/news/altnews/ 050110_coldplay.shtml - Cached

Sweet Maria's Small But Important Donation Program (#)

„To read their press release, click here. But you really need to download the full report (a PDF file) to adequately understand the situation. Also, take time to read Kraft and Nestle's responses to the indictments against the "big 4" coffee companies...they also make some good points.“

http://www.sweetmarias.com/donations.html - Cached