World Bank Group | Agriculture & Rural Development | Executive Summary - Coffee Markets: New Paradigms in Global Supply and Demand (#)

„These markets should not however be discounted because they can often have a considerable impact on the income of farmers. Besides premiums, there are several other convincing arguments for fostering the differentiated segments, particularly those certified as organic, fair trade, or eco-friendly because of their positive externalities in the field such as: Increased use of rural labor and organizational development Crop diversification and reduced input costs minimize financial riskBetter natural resource management and biodiversity conservation Reduced risk due to improved drought and erosion resistanceCrop resilience to adverse weatherFewer health risks due to potential mishandling of agrochemicalsCurrently, the differentiated markets import roughly 6-8 million bags of green coffee which represents about 9-12 percent of the total to the developed markets in North America, Western Europe, and Japan, as well as a somewhat larger percentage of profits. Some of the extra value of these coffees is created and captured in consuming countries, but to the extent that some of this higher value is kept by producers for their differentiation, these markets are breaking the pattern of a declining producer share of revenue. Because many producers are showing strong interest in these coffees, a word of caution is warranted.“

http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/essd/ardext.nsf/.../ executivesummary-coffeemarkets - Cached

Fresh Cup Magazine (#)

„   Gary Heine, one of Cooperative Coffees' founders and co-owner of Heine Brothers Coffee, a roaster/retailer in Louisville, Ky., also has future hopes for the co-op, such as working with decaffeinated coffees and exploring the possibility of importing fair-trade teas. But like the 13 other members of Cooperative Coffees, he's perfectly content with what the group has accomplished thus far: sourcing quality sustainable coffees, forging equitable, transparent partnerships with small farmers, and bringing the message of fair trade back to consumers. "We have the opportunity to change the world every time we buy, roast and sell a coffee," he says. "Fourteen roasters around the country are putting their money where their mouths are, and that can be a very powerful thing."“

http://www.freshcup.com/apr02_meetcoops.htm - Cached

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

„It has been some years now since the Fair Trade movement sprung itself on the specialty coffee world, using a passionate and skillfully managed media campaign to persuade a core of concerned consumers that they ought to pay a bit more for coffees that return more money directly to the small-holding farmers who grow the coffee. The timing couldn't have been more appropriate, because about the time the Fair-Trade movement kicked off, green coffee prices on the world market began their devastating plunge to what eventually became historic lows. Although prices since have recovered modestly, the current price paid for a decent grade of green coffee from many coffee-growing regions remains less than it costs farmers to produce that coffee, and suffering in coffee-growing regions continues.“

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

View topic - Fair Trade Only...Is it possible? - Coffee Forum (#)

„Oh and one more point /question, if a farmer wins the cup of excelence award what would be the rough price per pound compared to a fair trade and free trade per pound? Oh and finaly (I promise this time) I dont know if this is the same world wide but certain fair trade logos come at a price from what I can remember its 500 euro to join then an annual renewal and then a % of the price per pound, just to use the logo“

http://www.coffeeforums.com/ viewtopic.php?t=887&start=0 - Cached

View topic - fair trade article - Coffee Forum (#)

„With demand rising for Fair Trade and other eco- and worker-friendly coffees, caffeinated consumers are wading through what can be a confusing array of labels. Shoppers perusing the 12-ounce bags at their favorite espresso bar or grocery store often must choose between organic or shade-grown, or Fair Trade versus fair-traded.“

http://www.coffeeforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=986 - Cached

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

„Some coffee professionals criticize the fair-trade movement for valuing social and environmental issues more than coffee quality. They make the argument that, because growers are paid a guaranteed price for their fair traded coffees, the growers will not pay attentive to quality, and will be tempted to foist off whatever shoddy quality they wish on buyers.“

http://www.coffeereview.com/ reference.cfm?id=100 - Cached

International Finance Corporation - Projects (#)

„tea, cocoa). IFC and Olam will collaborate to see if ‘fair trade’ principles could be extended to cover their trading activities and establish what criteria would need to be met. ‘Fair trade’ requirements for crops such as cashew, sesame and peanut (and an assessment of market demand for them) may also be investigated.“

http://ifcln001.worldbank.org/ifcext/spiwebsite1.nsf/.../ 69512d416216a61d85256d2000591e9a?opendocument - Cached

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

„What is Fair Trade? Fair trade is an innovative concept that connects producers and consumers in more equitable, more meaningful and more sustainable ways. It happens through the development of consumer interest and the creation/cultivation of socially responsible importers.“

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

Tiny Joy, a home coffee roasting newsletter from Sweet Maria's Coffee (#)

„After talking at length about the subject, the issue of Fair Trade certification, market-independent coffees, how the market originated, etc., she said, "Okay, what I will be using a quote that ‘coffee middle-people and retailers gouge consumers’." Ugh…“

http://www.sweetmarias.com/tiny_joy_html/ july-aug01.html - Cached

CoffeeKid - Late August Coffee Musings (#)

„Still, this current sampling is easily in the top five of all the coffees I've tried this year. What makes it even better is that it is organic AND Fair Trade.“

http://www.coffeekid.com/cafetalk/08-29-2003 - Cached