yet it is unclear whether the true meaning behind the

economic, environmental and social impact of purchasing

and drinking it is understood.

In order to comprehend the

full impact fair trade coffee has on our society, one must

learn what it means.

A small number of large corporations around the world

control the production, trade, and retailing of goods and

services.

These large corporations firmly influence free

trade, which has become the primary detriment to trading

fairly. Through determination, these corporations have

successfully convinced the world's governments that

loosening trade regulations and breaking down barriers to

free trade will result in the rise of workers' wages and

benefits with the expanding foreign market.

The competition between large corporations to obtain

control over the global market has resulted in reducing

their cost by cutting jobs, wages, and benefits to workers.

Corporate profits leaving the country rather than being

reinvested locally hurts the workforce as well. Government

and corporations have written several agreements to

protect the intellectual and property rights of

corporations. However, agreements to protect workers'

rights and the environment have yet to be enforced.

Coffee is a highly traded commodity in the world, second

to oil. Over 25 million farmers and their families depend

on it for a steady income.

The fact that North American

consumers pay $4 to $11 a pound for conventional coffee,

which is the same coffee that is bought from coffee

growers at $.80 per pound, clearly proves the coffee

market is unfair. The involvement of the Fair Trade

Organization has benefited these growers by helping them

earn $1.12 to $1.26 per pound.

The Fair Trade Organization has been able to lower the

cost by working directly with democratically run producer

associations, worker-owned cooperatives, producers and

growers. These efforts have resulted in the farmers and

producers joining forces to achieve reduced costs,

simplified credit access, fair pricing, fair working

conditions and the ability to reinvest in the community.

Purchasing fair trade coffee means that you are giving a

'voice' to the coffee producers and farmers and empowering

women and indigenous communities by returning the control

of the coffee market into the their hands.

In comparing the cost of fair trade coffee to the

traditional coffee, the elimination of the liaison between

the growers has made the costs comparable.

Even though

the distribution costs of fair trade coffee is often higher

in price than coffee purchased in the grocery store, the

costs are equal to those of most gourmet coffees.

The controversy between corporations concerning equal pay

and fair working conditions does not affect the high

standards and quality of fair trade coffee.

Coffee that

is grown for the fair trade market receives a higher

recognition in today's market place.

This is due to the

coffee being developed organically (free from pesticides

and herbicides).

Consumers benefit from the indefinable

reward of knowing their contribution helps the workers to

defeat the corporations.

During your next visit to the grocery store, look for the

Fair Trade Certified logo.

This logo symbolizes that the

Fair Trade Federation (FTF), which upholds the fair trade

standards by requiring its members to meet strict criteria

in order to achieve fair trade status, has licensed the

product.

Encourage your friends, family, and co-workers

to purchase fair trade coffee on their next trip to the

market.

From the grower to the consumer, we all receive