Organic Fair Trade Coffee: FairTrade Coffee That Tastes Great And Helps People

In European countries, Organic Fair Trade Coffee is popular with many coffee drinkers who put considerable effort into buying coffee that is fair to the earth and to coffee farmers.

It's a simple concept: that by buying Organic Fair Trade Beans, you will end up putting more money into the hands of the farmers than via conventional purchasing systems or the free market.

For those interested in good coffee, it's a great deal - help farmers avoid poisoning the ground and your coffee; for those who care about social justice and believe in teaching a person to fish, it helps build families, communities, and even countries by ensuring farer wages for those closest to the coffee production cycle.

FairTrade Origins

Fairtrade Coffee is a social movement that is market-based, helping small independent growers of various crops and producers of crafts and other handiworks.

It is intended to help these people become economically independent by supporting their businesses in the growing stages.

This program pays its suppliers a higher price than is usual in order to encourage responsible environmental practices and social standards.

FairTrade Certification

When you buy organic fair trade coffee it will be labeled either "Fair Trade Certified Mark" or "International Fairtrade Certification Mark". It is required to come from "Flo-Cert" inspectors and producers who are certified through specific standards.

Fairtrade certified products must not come from child labor, unsafe workplaces or any violation of the United Nations charter regarding human rights. These coffee beans are grown without destroying forest canopy, thus preserving an important part of our global environment.

Early Coffees: *Ahem*

Though wrapped up in the issues and history of social injustice, the results of the first FairTrade coffees were less than spectacular. The coffees that were initially sold just did not match the regular quality standards, in terms of packaging, product quality, and distribution.

This may have been the result of the inexperience of organizations, like Oxfam, in procuring, preparing and selling coffee-related products. (Personally, I wanted to like Organic Fair Trade Coffee in the 1990's… but couldn't bring myself to.)

Organic Just Tastes Better Now

Then in the 2000's many well-known coffee companies in Europe started to purchase and sell much higher quality FairTrade Coffee. With higher quality blending and roasting, these brands have found far greater acceptance in the marketplace. The quality problems, even for me, have been solved to the benefit of FairTrade Farmers everywhere.

Organic fair trade coffee is shade-grown and free of harmful chemicals or pesticides. Many coffee lovers say that they can discern the difference in body and flavor. They like the fact that not only do they get a superior cup of coffee but by paying the farmers a fair wage they are contributing to the farmers' local communities.

Because they can get a fair price for their goods, these producers are able to educate their children and afford access to health care and decent shelter. With more money, too, the farmers can also invest in their own businesses for the first time. Meaning even better coffee beans.

FairTrade: From Farm to Coffee Cup

After hand-picking the coffee beans, growers sell them to a roaster who also meets Fair Trade requirements; they live up to working and wage standards outlined by Fair Trade Certification.

The FairTrade Coffees then end up in your favorite coffee shops where you can buy them in your favorite drinks, or take them home and make great coffee at home.

When you see the product on your stores' shelves, you know that you are getting ground coffee and coffee beans that are completely natural and free of many of the harmful practices of large corporate coffee plantations.

Now, doesn't FairTrade Coffee leave a much better taste in your mouth when you know the coffee growers and roasters get a decent price, too?

And finally...

Wherever you are, remember "Only Coffee Beans Make Great Coffee"! And enjoy that cup of coffee!

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