The Importance Of Fair Trade Coffee

Why Fair Trade Coffee is Important The coffee bean industry is a multimillion dollar business. Without human rights regulations, big agricultural and the ever-expanding nature of capitalism brings damage to the environment, mistreatment of workers, and unfair business practices.

This is sad but inevitable because developing countries supply goods mostly to developed countries. Without the right protection workers and farm owners can lose money on crops and not be able to support themselves. It is our duty as consumers to be mindful when we purchase imports such as coffee and remember to only buy fair trade.

Fair trade coffee standards Fair trade coffee is one way people are making sure that farms and workers are treated fairly in business. Fair trade products have been certified by Fair Trade International

The certification means that the product meets the agreed environmental, labor, and developmental standards set up by Fair Trade International. They periodically audit coffee bean farmers and companies to ensure that these standards are met.

They also require that improvements be made over time in areas such as education, wages, and safety. Fair trade is more than just a certification and fair coffee prices for farmers. It is about the welfare of the employee community and farm owners. It is also about the consistent improvement of standards in the work place.

Focused on development Whether it is a small coffee farm or large coffee farm, the set price the farmer gets for fair trade certified coffee is always consistent and fair, but there are many other benefits for farmers who participate in fair trade coffee production besides fair prices. On large coffee farms Fair Trade International acts more like a farm workers union, requiring employees to receive minimum wage and have the right and safety to air grievances about working conditions and wage. This is also known as the right to bargain collectively.

These standards also ensure that there is no child labor and that health and safety are up to date. Fair trade requirements also include that a representative from both the management and the employee section is present to decide how fair trade premiums will be spent to benefit employees. That means that all of the extra money from selling coffee at a fair price goes to making all the employees’ life a little less hard.

There are also many benefits to small farms too. Small farms that are fair trade certified are required to make democratic decisions, so that farmers can choose how fair trade profits are invested. These requirements also include building to each of the farms’ capacity for maximum growth so that they can become stronger economically and flourish.

In short, if you are going to be a consumer in a world where big business takes advantage of the poor farmer it is necessary to be conscious of the struggles that farmer face in the coffee bean industry. Supporting fair trade means being able to enjoy a fresh hot cup of coffee in the morning that you know was harvested under humane work conditions.