Fair Trade Coffee is similar to chocolate in that it is very widely availible in supermarkets and usually a similar price. Non-fair trade coffee is also similar to chocolate in its exploitation of the people that produce it. Oxfam NZ says:
"Over 25 million people in the developing world depend on coffee farming to make a living. But the volatility of coffee prices makes it a very unreliable source of income for growers.While
At times, coffee prices have fallen so low that growers have been unable to cover even their production costs, leaving many growers and their families suffering from malnutrition and often forced to abandon their family farms... Just a few cents of the price we pay for a cup of coffee actually gets back to the coffee farmer." http://www.oxfam.org.nz/what-we-do/issues/fair-trade/about-fairtrade/fairtrade-coffee
"Buying fair trade coffee is a great way for shoppers like us to make a real difference to the lives of coffee farmers and their families. More and more coffee farmers are working their way out of poverty through Fairtrade. By selling to the Fairtrade market, coffee farmers are guaranteed a fair, stable price so that they can always cover their production costs and meet their basic needs. In addition, coffee producers receive a Fairtrade premium for investing in local community development projects, such as schools, water wells, health or training." http://www.oxfam.org.nz/what-we-do/issues/fair-trade/about-fairtrade/fairtrade-coffeeThere is an excellent film made about the coffee industry and the effects of fair trade on the lives of coffee growers, it is called 'Black Gold'. Find out more at http://www.blackgoldmovie.com/ and it is also availible at trade aid shops.
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Where To Buy:
Fairtrade coffee is availible in lots of places and is sold by many brands. Most supermarkets sell it with the regular coffee, some brands have one or two varieties certified, others have their whole range. Look for the fair trade logo. Most fair trade coffee is also certified organic so if you are interested in that look out for one of the certified organic logos, see http://www.organicexplorer.co.nz/About+OE/About+Organic+Food+Certification+Symbols.html for more infomation.
Many cafes also sell fair trade coffee, and 'Wild Bean Cafe' at BP service stations sell fair trade coffee and hot chocolate. Again look for the fair trade logo and ask if you are not sure.
What is your favourite Fair Trade cafe? let us know in the comments.
The Tea Tree Cafe in Ranui! Woooooo.
ReplyDeleteAll fair trade coffee, and very yummy food in the cabinets, all the time. (Unfortunately only open 9-230 weekdays.)
Runner up = BP. They do consistently good coffee @ Swanson Road, and elsewhere.