A lot of coffee companies are coming out with blends, roasts, and brews that advertise being Fair Trade Certified coffee. But, what does this mean and whom does it affect?
Fair Trade Coffee has nothing to do with the coffee itself and everything to do with the people who grow, roast, and care for the beans. Coffee workers often work in harsh conditions and produce a mass of product for minimal amount of money. Comparably, Fair Trade Organizations protect against sweatshop-like conditions in the coffee fields. In order to become a Fair Trade certified coffee, “To become Fair Trade certified, an importer must meet stringent international criteria; paying a minimum price per pound of $1.26, providing much needed credit to farmers, and providing technical assistance such as help transitioning to organic farming. Fair Trade for coffee farmers means community development, health, education, and environmental stewardship.” http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/coffee/
So, maybe the next time you reach for a cup of coffee, you should wonder where it came from. Because it’s only fair that everyone should reap the benefits of their hard labor?
Melitta offers Fair Trade Organic bagged coffee while Wolfgang Puck and Reunion Island offer Fair Trade Organic Coffee Pods. All available on CoffeeRocket.com!
Although the deal is still in the works and should settle fully by 2010, Peet’s coffee has made an offer to Diedrich to purchase their line of coffee and sub-brands for $213 million. The Diedrich business currently profits the most in K-Cup sales, which Peet’s is quickly trying to break into given its incredible popularity. Eventually, Peet’s is expected to expand their newly acquired K-Cup line by producing their own K-Cups with their coffee, a process that will be much easier considering the future obtainment of a roasting and packaging plant.
Let’s do a quick side-by-side comparison of Starbucks using a Tall (12 oz) Cappuccino at $2.55 and a Cappuccino from the 
