Wake Up! The True Grind On Fair Trade Coffee
By Jillian Polaski
Filed Under The Big Picture | 9 Comments
With 54% of America drinking coffee on a daily basis and 25% being “occasional” coffee drinkers, we can safely say that approximately 80% of the population is very familiar with sipping a cup of joe. Second only to oil, coffee is the most traded commodity in the world, with the United States alone consuming one-fifth of total global production.
Yet, as demand for this roasted bean rises, value is sharply declining. In August 2001, the price of coffee fell below fifty cents per pound, although the prices in coffee houses and grocery stores remained constant. This means a sponging of excess profits by all parts of the coffee industry except the farmers in poverty-stricken countries such as Ethiopia that grow some of the most high-quality beans in the world. This is not an unusual story in the coffee industry.
Before opening The Cup espresso cafe in Boulder, Colorado, owners Chris and Wendy Ball began doing research on the different varieties of coffee and were appalled to uncover the conditions that many farmers are forced to work under. In defiance, they decided to sell only Fair Trade certified organic coffee. “We wanted to make sure that the business we chose to do was not being done on the backs of slave labor,” says Chris. The walls of their funky and modern cafe, rather than being lined with salable art, are lined with pictures of coffee farmers and their families engaging all stages of bean production. “Putting faces to these people is super important,” Chris says.
Due to coffee being an internationally traded commodity, its price is dictated by many of the same market factors involved in the sale and production of oil. The people who farm the coffee have no access to the markets and this leads to huge price instability. When a farmer begins planting their crops, prices might be, for example, $3.00 a pound, but by harvest time it could have dropped to $1.00. Of that price, the farmer generally does not see enough to meet their costs of production, much less to feed a family. Part of the problem is the roller-coaster of supply and demand. Coffee is a delicate crop that can be destroyed at any stage of the process, from planting and harvesting to roasting and brewing. It is prey to natural disasters (common in most tropical growing climates) and a hurricane or tsunami can easily wipe out an entire annual crop. When this happens, the price of coffee soars, farmers see an opportunity and begin planting coffee, which leads to an over supply when all the plants recover, and the price plummets even further.
In addition to the stress of widely fluctuating market prices, coffee farmers also have to worry about Coyotes. No furry animal, these money-hungry middlemen pass through and demand that farmers sell their harvests to them at a set, sub-standard price. Because farms are generally far removed from their marketplaces and the farmers usually have an immediate need for money to buy food and pay their expenses, they are left with no choice but to sell. “It’s a brutal system that stacks itself against the people at the very bottom,” Chris explains.
Fair Trade policy (created by Transfair USA and monitored by the Fair Trade Labeling Organization and third-party organization FLO-CERT) attempts to alleviate many of these problems by establishing a set price per pound for coffee. This allows market fluctuations over the course of the harvest to be smoothed out by guaranteeing farmers a living wage. Fair Trade farmers are currently paid $1.26 per pound of coffee. If, however, the market price goes higher than that, the farmer is paid the market price plus five cents, or eleven cents if the coffee is organically grown.
In addition, Fair Trade policy guarantees free financing to farmers so that they won’t feel pressure to sell their crops at a low price because of momentary hardships. Technical assistance is also provided so time can be taken to improve the quality of their beans and therefore garner the higher prices per pound that specialty coffee sells for. Finally, it gives farmers access to international markets and allows them to participate in international debate. “It gives the people a voice and allows them to have some power over their own lives,” Chris says.
Fair Trade coffee is not, however, without its problems, and one of the main issues it currently faces is green-washing. Big corporations have figured out that Fair Trade coffee sells, and consumers are more than willing to shell out more money in support of the humane treatment of farmers. Many coffee houses in the EU and North America advertise that they carry Fair Trade coffee, but only sell it in whole bean packages on the shelves; they don’t brew it. Or, worse, companies will pay the Fair Trade price for a pound of coffee, but won’t adhere to the other policies of Fair Trade, yet still label that coffee as fairly traded.
“Corruption is one of the largest scapegoats that people say they use as a reason not to buy Fair Trade coffee,” Chris explains. “I acknowledge that there are some problems with it but my answer is, at least it is trying. You can’t wait for the silver bullet to start shooting at the problems that are out there. You have to use the tools that you have available to you right now to make a difference.”
It is a chain of responsibility- from the certified organizations to ensure all companies that use their labels are meeting strict regulations to the consumer remaining informed about these issues. Corruption is a problem that consumers have to pay an increasing amount of attention to. The best thing to do is to ask the right questions at a local coffee retailer. If a coffee shop has organic, Fair Trade certified coffee on their shelves but they aren’t brewing it, ask them to. If it is labeled as “fairly traded” but does not have a certification- it is probably not an accurate representation of what goes on behind closed-doors. For Fair Trade to succeed, it means a holistic integration of economic, social and environmental responsibility on everyone’s part.
- Get informed on the current state of fair trade policy by un-biased organizations such as Oxfam
- Search for retailers near you that are dedicated to supporting the fair trade movement by only serving certified coffee
The terms “shade-grown” and “organic” seek to further enhance the social and environmental quality of coffee growing environments. Organic production has it’s own certification that places harsh limitations on chemical pesticide and fertilizer use. If coffee is “shade-grown” it means that farmers are able to grow other crops (like bananas) amongst their coffee plants, therefore providing them with additional income.
Posted on September 29, 2008 |
Permaculture 101: Feed The People: What Everyone Can Learn From The Cuban Oil Crisis
By Erin Gallagher
Filed Under The Big Picture | 7 Comments
Another day passes and the buzz about fuel prices and dwindling oil reserves hangs (along with the rush-hour traffic exhaust) in the evening air. The future of our global petroleum-based economy is a picture that not many of us want to paint, yet it is unavoidable not to ask what our lives may look like when the last drop of oil has burned.
In the US, the average person currently requires 7 barrels of oil to operate their home (heating, cooling and electricity), 9 barrels to power their vehicle and 10 to grow and transport the food they eat. Does ten barrels of oil for food sound surprising? The food industry is an extremely energy intensive process that has been expanded and commercialized to a point where industrial-sized machinery and mass production methods such as monopolized corporate farms and indiscriminate pesticide use are necessary to keep up with demand.
Fortunately, there is a country who can provide us with an image of what that the not-so-distant future without oil may look like. Cuba faced a crisis due to oil shortage with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Oil exports abruptly dropped 50% and the country lost 80% of it’s international trade economy.
Food production quickly became Cuba’s number one issue after their oil supply dwindled. Buses stopped running, factories became silent, tractors sat on the side of the road and people began to realize that food was not making the long journey from the farm to the city. People began to starve. Within a few months the average person lost 25 pounds and malnutrition in pregnant women and small children became the dominant issues for the medical community. Continue reading Permaculture 101: Feed The People: What Everyone Can Learn From The Cuban Oil Crisis…
Posted on August 29, 2008 |
About Face: Read Your Labels!
By Jillian Polaski
Filed Under Sustainable Style | 5 Comments
The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act defines cosmetics as “articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body…for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance.” That definition covers a lot more products than just eye shadow and foundation. It includes everything from lipstick and lotion to deodorant, shaving cream, toothpaste and mouthwash. Both women and men regularly use products that are defined as “cosmetics.” The average person uses as many as 25 personal care products everyday, coming into contact with as many as 100 chemicals before breakfast.
Continue reading About Face: Read Your Labels!…
Posted on July 14, 2008 |
Natural Sunscreen 101
By Jillian Polaski
Filed Under Green Living, News & Reviews | 7 Comments
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who are concerned with sunburns, skin cancer, or pre-mature aging, then you’re probably no stranger to sunscreen. Surprisingly, even with all the slathering on of sunscreen in this country, incidents of skin cancer have tripled in the US in recent years. There are even some studies that say your conventional, chemical-based sunscreen may actually be partly to blame. Many of these chemicals have been found to generate free radicals that can cause cancer while they’re supposedly protecting you from it.
Another unexpected danger from sunscreen use is that it may be harming coral reefs and fish. Sunscreen from beachgoers and snorkelers washes off into the ocean and causes UV ray interference to the corals, leading to viral infections and coral bleaching. Scientists have found fish off the coast of California that have had ovarian tissue growing in their testes. They believe that oxybenzone (a main ingredient in many conventional sunscreens) is responsible. Other dangerous chemicals to look out for include octinoxate, diethanolamine (DEA), and parabens The best choice is a sunscreen containing naturally occurring zinc oxide. Naturally occurring titanium dioxide is a close second, although there has been some controversy around titanium dioxide as well.
The safest and most eco-friendly way to prevent burns is to limit your time in the sun, and to wear a hat and cover up when you’re exposed to it. If you must use sunscreen, be sure to read the label; many sunscreens that claim to be all natural or eco-friendly contain those nasty little sea-creature-killing chemicals. Here’s a bit of insight into some of the major brands of “natural” and “organic” sunscreens you may find at your grocer or drugstore.
Alba Botanica Organic Lavender Sunscreen
Alba Botanica Organic Lavender Sunscreen is one of those sunscreens where you really have to be careful and read the label. Although this sunscreen does contain a few ingredients that are organic (like the lavender, aloe vera, chamomile, ginkgo biloba, and green tea), the active ingredients include 7.5% octinoxate and 6.0% oxybenzone, making the sunscreen as a whole far from certified organic. This sunscreen is neither organic nor completely natural, and not high on the list of recommended sunscreens for the safety of you or the environment.
MSRP: $9.95 for 4 oz ($2.48/oz)
Continue reading Natural Sunscreen 101…
Posted on July 8, 2008 |
Field To Fork: The Story Of Food Miles
By Joshua Rosenthal, M.S.
Filed Under Green Living, The Big Picture | 2 Comments
Personal food choices have an impact on our bodies and on our environment. Every single meal we eat is made up of food that requires significant amounts of energy to reach our plate. The journey our food takes is much longer than most realize. We refer to this journey as food miles - the distance food travels from field to plate. The higher the mileage, the less cool the food.
Food travels further these days because large corporate grocery stores have centralized methods for distributing food. In some cases, a crop of cherries may travel across the country to be packaged and then sent back close to where the cherries were originally grown. In other situations, stores fly in food from all over the world to ensure they have fresh produce, whatever the season. This practice causes us to have organic bananas from Peru, kiwis from New Zealand, and avocados from Mexico at any time of year.
In my own area, my food coop sells organic apples from Washington State right next to apples grown locally and they both cost about the same. Locally produced, seasonal foods cut energy use and therefore leave a smaller impact. They are much much better for the environment and for local economies.
Then there’s the matter of meat. To eat or not to eat, that is the question. Cattle require huge amounts of water. Giving up just two pounds of beef a year will save more water than if you stopped showering for a year. When is Al Gore going to start talking about this? Continue reading Field To Fork: The Story Of Food Miles…
Posted on June 3, 2008 |
Food Fight: Organic Vs. Conventional
By Sara Yellich
Filed Under Green Living | 2 Comments
So there I am again, standing before my supermarket produce display wondering which one is better: the organic Pink Lady or the conventional Braeburn? What am I buying into when I choose either apple? How am I effecting air, water, soil, and local economies? I am part of a vast interdependent machine more influential than I can fathom with my consumption choice.
I realize my questions arise because I am considered an “ethical eater”. Having the financial ability, educational resources and time to deliberate between organic versus conventional produce is a privilege. And, after my focused deliberation, the difference between organic and conventional is still unclear.
Unfluenced by trailblazers such as of Chef Alice Waters of Chez Panisse (SF) and Gene Kahn of Cascadian Farm (OR), organic food rose to prominence in the 1970’s. By their standards, the definition of “organic” encompassed a broad spectrum of meaning: natural, fresh, healthy foods grown on small local farms. Now, the organic business is a $7.7 billion dollar industry, with a growth rate of 22% in 2007 alone; organics finally match conventional agribusiness in economies of scale. Sadly, the special nomenclature and labeling of organics results in organic Oat O’s being sold for $2 more than their conventional counterpart, because conventional farmers receive farm subsidies and organic farmers still do not. How are we, as consumers, to know what’s better for both us and the environment? Continue reading Food Fight: Organic Vs. Conventional…
Posted on May 23, 2008 |
Eco Travel Heaven: Costa Rica
By Katy Pollock
Filed Under Green Living | 1 Comment
Just south of a tiny surfing town of Domincal, in the southwestern corner of Costa Rica, is a haven of nature unlike any other. Abundant wildlife fills the jungle and primary rainforest soars over secluded beaches along the world’s first and only marine national park that protects both land and sea, Morino Ballena National Park.
At the northernmost tip of the preserve is Playa Ballena (ballena is Spanish for whale) which, in my opinion, should be added to the “wonders of the world” list. At low tide, the sandbar peeks above the surf and displays a natural phenomenon resembling a whale’s tail. It’s a 30-minute walk to the end of the “tail” where you can snorkel and swim with all sorts of majestic sea creatures.
Established in 1990, the marine park protects nearly 100 square miles, spanning roughly ten miles along the coast and ten miles out to sea. The park is home to the largest coral reef in Central America’s Pacific coast and a variety of mangrove species. Each year the area welcomes nesting sea turtles and migrating whales. Continue reading Eco Travel Heaven: Costa Rica…
Posted on May 16, 2008 |
Can Organic Farming Feed the World?
By Anita M. Burke
Filed Under Green Living, The Big Picture | 1 Comment
Organic farming is now the fastest growing component of world agriculture, with farmers in 110 nations cultivating certified organic crops. In the US, more than a million acres of certified organic cropland and pasture were added over the last four years. The growth has been triggered by multiple factors. Many family farmers are discovering organic farming provides more economic stability than conventional farming. Consumers are buying more organic products as they are witnessing an increasing number of scientific studies revealing the dangers (to human health and the environment) of pesticides and genetically engineered crops. Consumers also support organic farming, because it’s more likely to support family farmers. According to the USDA, this upsurge brought the total acreage to over 2.3 million acres. Sad to say, as vast as that sounds, it’s actually less than 0.3% of the total farmland in the United States. We’ve got a long way to go.
With today’s global food security starting to heat up, this transformation can come none to soon. Scientists, agricultural experts and even longtime enemies of organic farming, big agribusines, are taking a hard look at some recent field studies by a University of Michigan research team. Their well-constructed model showed that a transformation to organic farming worldwide would yield 4,381 calories per person per day! That is 75% greater than the current availability…a quantity that could theoretically sustain a much larger human population than is currently supported. Continue reading Can Organic Farming Feed the World?…
Posted on April 17, 2008 |
Good Enough to Eat
By Jenn Breckenridge
Filed Under Green Living | Leave a Comment
Women love products. We do. There’s a cleanser, cream, spray, soak, serum, lotion, potion, tonic, foam or gel for every last inch of our bodies, and then some. At some point over the years, I realized my quest for cleanliness, beauty, and a powder-fresh scent was contributing a stockpile of plastic bottles to our already overtaxed landfills. I also realized that propylene glycol and sodium laureth sulfate might not be the best ingredients for my health conscious lifestyle. Giving up the products appeared from the outside like a beauty suicide and quite honestly, what could one clean and coif themselves with that didn’t come in a plastic bottle full of chemicals?
I had heard about soap and even remembered a time during childhood in which I’d actually used it myself. Bar soap seemed a thing of the past, an antiquated remnant of an age far gone, something a frontierswoman might have used after a long day driving the wagon train in the same no-nonsense way that she used cow chips for fuel. Wasn’t it drying? Wasn’t “one-quarter moisturizing cream” something that had fallen short of my expectations time and again? If memory served, I felt less like a Dove post-soapdown and more like Melba toast, which is why I’d switched over to the fancy plastic bottles full of unpronounceables to begin with. Continue reading Good Enough to Eat…
Posted on April 10, 2008 |
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