Fairtrade Partners: Here’s why Fairtrade coffee matters

“The great thing about modern specialty coffee is that there’s great interest in the sourcing of the coffee, but largely what this means is that they’re mostly interested in where the coffee was grown, at what altitude, what species the coffee is. As if that alone is what coffee quality is based off of. The thing is, people grow coffee, coffee doesn’t grow by itself.

“For us, the quality of coffee is a team effort. It’s the roaster, it’s the exporter, and it’s the community that coffee has grown in. So, it’s part and parcel of an overall quality program. And that’s what Fairtrade does. It recognizes the value of small farmer cooperatives and allows them to band together to have a stronger voice and be able to bring their coffees directly to market. That’s why I use Fairtrade. It’s an avenue to quality.”

“The big business of coffee will always dictate the terms of trade for millions of smallholder producers. Fairtrade is the only large-scale, global intervention to an exploitative international coffee trading system. We stand behind the standards of Fairtrade because they provide a price floor, mandatory premiums and producer-centered trade requirements. We believe it is a tide that lifts all ships upon which quality-differentiated coffees can thrive and coffee producers can lead dignified lives.”

“We had held on to the belief that we didn’t need a stamp to attest that we paid beyond Fairtrade minimums and adhered to other environmental and social standards in our sourcing practices. However, we have come to realize that seals such as those from Fairtrade International are ways to affirm and solidify that commitment. The Fairtrade Mark promotes trust and transparency for our customers through a reliable and rigorous certification process.”

“The people and community around fair trade – that’s what gets me going. I’m excited by the connection between people and communities and cultures, despite our differences. We chose to certify back in 2003 because it was always a big part of our plan. We chose to change our certifier to Fairtrade America because we’ve learned that not all certifiers are the same, and that Fairtrade America better represents our mission in Great Coffee for Everyone.”

“We are committed to sourcing the highest quality coffee that doesn’t come at an extra cost to our planet or the farmers that grow the beans. That’s why we are incredibly particular about where and from whom we source our coffees from. For Grace Farms, sustainable coffee begins with organic farming practices that prioritize biodynamic and regenerative tactics like agroforestry and inter-crop plantings.

“We also know that it is farmers at the beginning of the supply chain that are most at risk of forced labor. That’s why we source from small-holder farmers whose average farms are less than 2.5 acres. By supporting small farmers and co-ops we help provide financial independence directly to the farms rather than large coffee plantations. Both our Indonesian and Colombian co-op partners are organic and Fairtrade certified, and we are working with our Ethiopian supplier to become certified as well.”

“The Temecula Coffee Roasters family spends a lot of time and effort in assuring ethical and responsible practices with our coffee suppliers and farmers. Fairtrade prioritizes these same considerations, so by establishing some of our coffee offerings as Fairtrade certified, this means we can continue our commitment to farmers all over the globe. Partnering with Fairtrade gives credibility in our continued efforts, but most importantly it expands our communal responsibility of such practices by collaborating with organizations such as Fairtrade, sharing and executing similar goals harmoniously.”