THE LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF
FAIR TRADE COFFEE PROJECT
A simple solution: fair trade.
One answer for small-scale farmers is fair trade. Fair trade shares the bounty of the coffee trade with those who grow the crop, helping them build a better future for themselves and their communities.
By working together and pooling their resources to form a cooperative, farmers can sell their coffee directly to international buyers without relying on middlemen. Through fair trade, farmers receive a fair price that covers their cost of production and guarantees them a living wage for their labors.
Fair trade far surpasses the temporary assistance provided to farmers through charity. Instead, the ongoing business of fair trade consistently contributes to the living conditions of farmers, their families and their communities. Cooperatives use profits from fair trade coffee sales in establishing community improvement programs such as training in organic farming, leadership development, schools and health clinics.
The LWR Fair Trade Coffee Project: your role in fair trade. Next>
Questions? Email fairtrade@lwr.org to learn more.
