Green and Roasted Coffee quality testing. Photo Courtesy of TransFair USA

Pedro is a small-scale coffee bean farmer in southern Ecuador. He toils in fields under the sun-drenched heat hoping to make enough money to support his wife and children. In an unbalanced exchange, importers buy Pedro’s product for less than his production costs. And, therefore, Pedro doesn’t make a profit. Unfair trade.

Many farmers receive prices for their products that are less than the cost of production, perpetuating a cycle of poverty. Coffee, corn, syrup and cocoa are just some of the popular products at the forefront of unfair trade exports. Fair Trade breaks this vicious cycle. This global campaign brings Third World farmers out of poverty by promoting ethical and equitable trading between the buyers and producers. The effects of Fair Trade can also promote better education, health and growth in these communities. When consumers understand and buy Fair Trade products, they strengthen the fight against unfair practices. Businesses are taking note. And some are going the extra mile: known as “100% Fair Trade Companies,” these businesses are building corporate integrity while stabilizing some of the world’s poorest communities. (Products are limited to coffee, cocoa and chocolate.)

Who’s Legit?

How do you know if the coffee you are buying was negotiated under fair trade practices?

• First, check if the package has a Fair Trade Certified logo from TransFair USA. This easily weeds out the corporate hype because the logo determines that the company paid a fair price for the batch.
• The second way is if the company is a member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF). FTF companies work to implement economic justice principles into their businesses. TransFair USA and Fair Trade Certified has a national listing of retailers who carry and serve certified products. Let’s start with coffee:

• Bruegger’s – Ask for their daily Fair Trade Certified brewed coffee.
• Caribou Coffee – Ask for the Fair Trade Blend.
• Dunkin’ Donuts – Order any hot or iced espresso drink.
• Einstein Bagels – Ask for their Global Village Fair Trade Blend.
• Noah’s Bagels – Ask for their daily Fair Trade Certified brewed coffee.
• Peet’s Coffee and Tea – Ask for the Fair Trade Blend.
• Seattle’s Best Coffee – Ask for the Fair Trade Certified Organic French Roast.
• Starbucks Coffee – Ask for Cafe Estima.*
• Tully’s Coffee – Order any hot or iced espresso drink.

* Starbucks has come under controversy regarding its authenticity to 100% Fair Trade policies. So in 2008, the Seattle-based coffeehouse announced that it would double its purchases to 40 million pounds in 2009, building support for small-scale coffee farmers. When it comes to buying coffee for the home or office, these retailers carry the following:

• Whole Foods Market is a longtime purveyor of Fair Trade products.
• Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Choice coffee is Fair Trade certified.
• Costco’s Kirkland brand coffee, and
• Target’s in-store brand Archer Farms have the stamp of approval, as well.

Renson is proud of the new home he been able to build for his wife and his two young children since selling his bananas to the Fair Trade market. – 2003 Fairtrade Foundation

Beyond Coffee

From wine to flowers or skincare, TransFair USA and Fair Trade Certified also has listings of other certified products:

• Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops – Ask for Vanilla, Chocolate, Coffee or Coffee Heath Bar Crunch ice cream.
• Fred Meyer – Look for FTC coffee, chocolate, tea
• Giant – Look for FTC flowers, coffee, tea, chocolate
• Kroger – Look for FTC coffee, chocolate, tea
• Safeway – Look for FTC coffee, tea, sugar
• Sam’s Club – Look for Member’s Mark® coffee, Neu Direction FTC wine, Peterson Farms FTC Sweetened Dried Triple Cherry & Cherry Berry Blend, FTC bananas, & online FTC flowers
• Target ““ In addition to coffee, look for Wandering Grape FTC wines, Archer Farms FTC coffee
• Trader Joe’s – Look for FTC coffee
• Walmart – In addition to coffee, look for Peterson Farms FTC Chocolate Covered Dried Cherries
• Wegman’s – Look for FTC coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar
• Whole Foods Market – In addition to coffee, look for FTC tea, chocolate, wine, sugar, energy bars, body care products, flowers, rice

31 days, 31 ways

In honor of Fair Trade month, people and organizations are holding events to celebrate, raise awareness and promote Fair Trade in their communities. Here are a few:

• PeaceCraft in Berea, Ky., is hosting a Fair Trade Fashion Sale. Buy clothes for 15% off every day in October.

• Ten Thousand Villages in Brookline, Mass., is celebrating Fair Trade with chocolate. Known as Choctoberfest, the store is giving away a free bar of the new Dark Chocolate with Raspberries.

• Delmar’s First Fair Trade Shop Hop in New York showcases local places where Fair Trade goods can be purchased.

• San Francisco-based Alter Eco launched the Alter Eco Fair Trade Cooking Challenge benefiting poverty-stricken farming communities. The Cooking Challenge allows professional and beginner chefs to create and post their Fair Trade recipes on the Alter Eco website. Participants will be eligible to win Alter Eco products and have trees planted in their names to benefit farmers in the Peruvian Amazon.

For a complete list of ways to get involved, go to fairtrademonth.org. On Twitter, follow @fairtradeusa.