Coffee is second only to oil in terms of its economic impact worldwide. Because it’s so widely traded and consumed, coffee has a huge impact on the economic well being of people in coffee producing countries. If those countries cannot receive a fair price for their coffee, it cripples their entire economy.

Fair Trade is an alternative way of doing business—one that builds equitable, long-term partnerships between consumers and producers. Fair Trade Organizations work primarily with small worker-owned and democratically run cooperatives and associations, which bring significant benefits to workers and their communities.  The additional money fair trade relationships bring into a community can be used directly to build health clinics, schools, improved water systems and even significant improvements to the coffee farms. To date, Fair Trade products have resulted in an additional $100 million in income for farmers.  Also, fair trade wages allows families to continue working small rural community farms instead of abandoning them to work in city jobs; thus keeping the continuity of the areas communities.

As a company that puts people first, our desire is to always bring that priority into every decision we make. This is why we strongly support the Fair Trade Movement.

 
http://www.transfairusa.org  (TransFair USA web site)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade (Fair Trade definition)