Why You Should Buy Fair Trade Coffee

Why is buying Fair Trade coffee better?

Well...

Conventionally sourced coffee prices are set by global supply and demand. The market price of coffee can fall below the cost of production, which can be devastating for farmers.

Green Mountain Coffee does buy some specialty-grade conventional coffee, but they do not buy commodity coffee. Green Mountain Coffee says that when they buy coffee through conventional sourcing practices they have little or no knowledge of who produced the coffee, how they produced it, or how much of the purchase price actually reached the producer. Approximately 40% of Green Mountain Coffee is Fair Trade Certified, but as they raise awareness and encourage consumers to switch over to Fair Trade Certified.

There are important factors that go into buying Fair Trade coffee such as the producer, consumer and our environment.

• Producers: Beyond receiving a fair, stable price, fair trade also empowers producers to invest in their organizations, improve their communities and protect the environment.

• Consumers: Fair trade certification enables consumers to "vote with their dollar" by providing an independent guarantee that products were produced and traded fairly. We all lead busy lives, and we want to do the right thing, but we're busy. What if we could make a positive impact just with the purchases we make every day? And not have to go out of our way to do this? That's a good reason to buy Fair Trade.

• The Earth: Fair trade certification requires and rewards environmentally sustainable farming practices that protect farmers' health and help the environment for future generations. This also provides the resources that is required for organic certification.