Whenever you buy any products bearing the Fairtrade Mark, you are supporting farmers and workers and helping them to improve their lives and their communities. The Fairtrade Mark means that the ingredients in the products have been produced by small-scale farmer organisations or plantations that have met the Fairtrade social, economic and environmental standards. These standards include the protection of workers' rights and the environment, payment of the Fairtrade Minimum Price to the producer and importantly an additional Fairtrade Premium to invest in business or community projects.
Fairtrade is designed to benefit small-scale farmers and workers, who are amongst the most marginalised groups globally, through trade rather than aid. This in turn enables them to maintain their own livelihoods and communities.
Coffee used to be well, just plain coffee. You could order it with cream and/or sugar and that was pretty much the extent of the considerations. Now, the variation of terms bandied about is endless: organic coffee, gourmet coffee roasters who use only gourmet coffee beans, dark roast coffee, French roast and Arabica beans. There is also the place of origin: Ethiopia, Kona, Mocha, Sumatra and Uganda. Given the current rate of global warming, Tundra can't be far behind.
Then, there is Fair Trade coffee. Fair Trade certification originated in the Netherlands in 1988 after a significant drop in wholesale coffee prices around the world. During that period, there was an excess supply of coffee beans over demand. The price on world markets had plummeted so low that coffee farmers around the world were unable to earn anything close to a livable wage. By 1997, several other labeling certifications had evolved: Fair Trade Foundation, TransFair USA and Rattvisemarkt. They merged to become The Fair Trade Labeling Organization or FLO, which has been extended to include many types of agricultural products.
In order to attain Fair Trade Certification for coffee, wholesale importers must adhere to certain standards. They must provide credit to farmers as well as offer transitional assistance to those who choose to produce an organic coffee bean crop. They must provide safe working conditions for all workers, pay a fair wage, allow no child labor and invest the Fair-Trade premiums they receive into development projects such as medical care, environmental projects, training and scholarships. In return, they are guaranteed approximately $1.30 per pound for raw coffee beans as opposed to selling on the world market. When the world market price is higher (as it is now), they receive a premium above the market rate. Those growers who convert to organic farming methods receive an additional $.20 per pound. Since Fair Trade eliminates intermediary steps between the producer and consumer, often the retail price is quite similar. To know more about Best Coffee Service please visits here: - http://www.javatimescaffe.com
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