Fair Trade Coffee

FREE SHIPPING on wholesale coffee orders of 20 lbs or more! Wholesale coffee orders in by 11 am EST are custom roasted and shipped same the business day! Coffee is packaged in 5 lb bulk bags and whole bean coffee unless noted.
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Google Coffee, MSN Coffee, Fair Trade News

Without the existence of Fair Trade, the farmers and their employees would never be able to rise above the financial hardships they face. By increasing the much needed business abilities of the farmers Fair Trade gives control back to the people that deserve it. Competition on an international level is made possible by the actions of Fair Trade and many farmers benefit from the pledged least amounts that are acceptable for trade. The percentages paid to the communities are also set up by Fair Trade so that the farmers can still profit and maintain their farms while they simultaneously provide assistance to their surroundings and the people that live in it. Fair Trade furthers the idea of price equality by extending its justice to include the community and environment.

At a twenty percent consumption rate Americans are responsible for guzzling down more coffee than any other place on the planet. Most of the people that drink coffee in America have no clue that the coffee they enjoy everyday was grown under deplorable conditions that include laborers that are underpaid, overworked and possibly even too young. In order for a farmer to gain any income at all, the prices are often set so low that the farm ends up drained and owing money. A realistic solution to this unbelievable predicament was created with Fair Trade. People can be rest assured that they are not contributing to the problem when they consume coffee that has been specifically designated as Fair Trade. Becoming Fair Trade certified is a rigorous process that is based on forcing international standards on the importer. These standards include setting a specific price that is allowed to be paid for the Fair Trade coffee as well as assisting the coffee growers with any help they need for developing their farms to better their crop. The system of Fair Trade epitomizes the ideas of societal advancement, well-being, instructional pursuits and ecological responsibility for the farmer and consumer alike.

Common Questions Regarding Fair Trade and TransFair

1. What is does it mean to be Fair Trade certified?
2. What is the purpose of TransFair USA and what do they do?
3. What is FLO and what is the function of FLO?
4. What types of products are Fair Trade Certified in America?
5. Are handicrafts eligible for certification by TransFair USA?
6. Who is responsible for establishing the criterion for Fair Trade?
7. Are all products that are Fair Trade certified also certified organic?
8. Are the prices higher for products that have been certified as Fair Trade?

What does it mean to be Fair Trade certified?

Nearly 60 underdeveloped countries and well over one million people from regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America are assisted by the worldwide Fair Trade market. By enabling the end user to decide to take action with their money, people can take part in creating an improved existence via their purchases of Fair Trade certified coffee. Products that are certified as Fair Trade items can range from coffee and teas to chocolate, sugar and rice. Nearly 40,000 stores in America proudly offer Fair Trade products and the number of participants is rising every day. The Fair Trade philosophy consists of:
• Fair value: Independent organizations of coffee farmers are given a pledged bare minimum amount for their crop as well as an extra amount for items that are certified organic. Some farmer groups are also entitled to credit before the crop is even ready.
• Fair working environment: Employees of Fair Trade farmers receive appropriate treatment such as a hazard free environment, basic human rights to freedom and a suitable income. Coerced or mandatory employment of children is harshly forbidden.
• Straight trading: The pointless existence of intermediate brokers is eliminated so that importers can buy openly from the Fair Trade organization giving the power back to farmers so the groups are reinforced and able to compete in the international market.
• Self-governed and clearly understandable groups: Farmers and related employees govern the organization themselves by choosing how to allocate the profits made from Fair Trade sales.
• Societal advancement: Bonus profits made from Fair Trade sales are used by the farmers to give back to their communities by way of commerce expansion missions that include learning curriculums, excellence progression guidance and organic certification.
• Ecological nourishment: Genetically modified organisms are forbidden within the Fair Trade program, and instead it encourages incorporated farm running techniques that increase the richness of the soil while minimizing the utilization of chemicals. Fair Trade supports procedures that uphold the care for the environment, the well-being of the farmers and workers as well as protect and conserve the precious bionetwork for forthcoming farmers.

What is the purpose of TransFair USA and TransFair and what do they do?

The single intermediary certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States is the not for profit group TransFair USA. Any item that is certified as Fair Trade within the United States has undergone a meticulous inspection by TransFair USA that is in conformity with the rules and standards of Fair Trade standards. Nearly 1,000 American businesses have been issued a permit by TransFair that enables them to use the Fair Trade label depicting certification which means they have been approved for meeting the exact regulations of the Fair Trade system. There are only 23 groups that are members of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) and TransFair is one of them.
The true meaning of Fair Trade is made possible by groups like TransFair USA who facilitate the advancement of the farmers while creating a better trading environment for everyone including the purchasers, coffee market and planet. TransFair USA is able to accomplish their goals by endorsing and sponsoring products that have determined to be Fair Trade.

What is FLO and what is the function of FLO?

There are 23 Labeling Initiatives that are responsible for certifying and supporting Fair Trade items, and Fairtrade Labelling Organization International (FLO) includes each one in an organized union. TransFair USA is a member of FLO which actually encompasses two separate groups within the main organization situated in Germany:
FLO International is the portion of FLO that is responsible for maintaining the principles of the worldwide Fair Trade system. This group is the main connection to the Labeling Initiatives including TransFair USA as well as the farmer organizations, dealers and outside authorities.
FLO-Cert is the segment of FLO that actively scrutinizes and certifies the farmer organizations for Fair Trade acceptance. Visit www.fairtrade.net for further facts regarding FLO and its practices.

What types of products are Fair Trade Certified in America?

The first product certified as Fair Trade by TransFair USA was coffee back in the late 1990’s. Since then TransFair USA has evolved to include a more diverse range of Fair Trade products including chocolate, cocoa, fresh fruit, herbs, rice, spices, sugar and tea. In Europe there are additional products available as Fair Trade such as cotton, flowers and wine.

Are handicrafts eligible for certification by TransFair USA?

TransFair USA does not certify any type of craftwork. Fair Trade was specifically created for items originating on farms and has yet to be modified for the handiwork products that were made by artists. The entire system of creation including investment fees is so different for artists that there is no method in place within TransFair that can properly assess a fair market price for their crafts. To reduce the need for a complete overhaul of the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International system, the organization paired up with the International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT) group which already Fair Trade certifies and supports many people that produce and sell crafts. Over time the two groups have begun to combine practices so that TransFair can certify products that are endorsed by IFAT. This has made it faster and easier for TransFair to allow Fair Trade artisans to benefit from the program. Understanding how to overcome price concerns has been the focus of World of Good Development Organization, and their research has been able to provide ways to conquer trivial price problems that impede the certification process.
Many people that deal with importing and selling handicrafts employ the same standards that apply to certified Fair Trade products such as creating meaningful connections with the seller, giving decent value to the goods and confirming that a proper work environment exists.
Support fair trade by making a purchase at one of the following organizations:
• A Greater Gift - a division of Sales Exchange for Refugee Rehabilitation Vocation, an organization that has strived to provide respect and equality for Fairly Trade item producers since the introduction of the concept.
• Bead for Life - a Fair Trade product from Uganda featuring stunning beads handcrafted out of recycled paper by women artisans. Proceeds support the annihilation of deficiencies that are so rampant in Uganda.
• Fair Trade Federation -vendors and distributors of Fair Trade products comprise this members only organization that supports the Fair Trade philosophy.
• Fair Trade Sports - pioneers in the Fair Trade sports market, this American company sells a wide variety of Fair Trade items related to sports.
• Global Exchange Online Store - a website that offers products that completely reflect their devotion to ending poor work environments from child labor to underpaid workers.
• Mercado Global - completely not for profit, this group helps to connect the most severely deprived collectives with the American marketplace.
• Pachamama, World of Artisans - an organization that is faithful to the cause of providing poverty stricken areas of the world with profits from their unique Fair Trade exports.
• Ten Thousand Villages - a long time supporter of Fair Trade certified products, this organization offers a vast array of products in a range of prices and designs.
• World of Good - this company works towards bringing awareness that every dollar spent on their distinct products can affect people in impoverished regions of the world.

Who is responsible for establishing the criterion for Fair Trade?

Although there are many people involved in the formation of the principles of Fair Trade, it is Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International that makes the final set of rules. By including the farmers, workers, brokers, Labeling Initiatives and outside experts in the development procedures, FLO considers all perspectives when assessing and redeveloping the principles of Fair Trade. The International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance sets the stage for the Fair Trade standards by providing the basic prerequisites for consideration. Visit FLO's website for the entire set of principles and regulations that have been created for Fair Trade products as well as information regarding the procedure that creates them.

Are all products that are Fair Trade certified also certified organic?

Not all products that are certified as Fair Trade are necessarily organic since organic production requires more of a financial investment on the farmer’s end. To help create more organic products, the Fair Trade system gives farmers using organic growing methods an additional monetary bonus.
Although organic farming requires additional funds from the farmer in order to be certified as so, the actual organic process costs less since there are no expensive chemicals being used. It is for this reason that most fair Trade farmers prefer to grow organically. Quite frequently the farmer’s association will be able to fund the organic certification process making it easier for more organically grown Fair Trade items to come into existence. At this moment nearly three quarters of the Fair Trade coffee in America is also certified as being 100% organic.

Are the prices higher for products that have been certified as Fair Trade?

It depends. Some products that are offered in a wide variety of qualities from low grade to specialty will likely have higher end products that will compare with the Fair Trade item. Coffee is the perfect example of this situation since it often comes in gourmet blends that are priced much higher than the lower end common types. Other Fair Trade items may cost more due to circumstances beyond the control of the producers such as increased fees to move their product from one location to another. Add the variability of the seller’s overhead to the picture and you will find a wide variety of price differences in Fair Trade products all across the nation.
TransFair is influential in the pricing of product sales for the farmers, but they have no say on the final charge that the individual shops decide to set for the items. As the need for Fair Trade products continues to increase through societal awareness, the prices will expectedly become closer to those of regularly priced items.

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