Fair Trade Coffee Growing

About half of the world 's coffee is grown in small family farms with just a few acres of coffee plants. Fair Trade certification offers a means for these farmers to raise their income by helping them to form cooperatives that connect them directly to coffee importers. Fair Trade producers are given a bonus above the average price charged on the world market for coffee.

In turn, Fair Trade strengthens the economic prosperity of producers by allowing importers to expand financial support to cooperatives and to establish long-term trade agreements.

Fair Trade Coffee is one of the Fair Trade movements that was first developed in the 1940s and 1950s. In reaction to the fall in coffee prices worldwide, Fair Trade certification was founded in 1988. Fair Trade Certification Guidelines discuss equal working practices, reciprocal trading with manufacturers, economic growth for Fair Trade Farmers and the political framework of their organizations. The Rainforest Foundation maintains a related award.

The Rainforest Alliance partners with producers to track conformity with their pay rates, decent housing and health services, and access to school for youth.

Currently, thanks to market knowledge and desire, many small and big coffee producers are selling Fair Trade coffee.