When buying coffee, you might be thinking in the back of your head about news stories you’ve heard regarding child or forced labor and developing countries exploited by coffee companies to squeeze as much profit out of the local population as they can by any means. It can be a harrowing thought, not knowing if the coffee you drink every day has come from an ethical source.
But that’s where fair trade coffee comes in. Fair trade coffee is the small subsection of the coffee bean industry that is explicitly dedicated to providing the developing countries producing our coffee with fair wages and good living conditions. This is ensured by a number of rules that, if not followed, will disqualify a coffee company from qualifying as fair trade.
First, fair trade coffee producers must pay an agreed-upon rate for their coffee that ensures the workers producing said coffee are able to afford a good standard of living.
Next, the working conditions must be deemed safe, both for the workers and the surrounding environment.
And finally, the provider’s supply chains must be transparent. What this means is that, in order to count as fair trade coffee, a company must be able to show that fair trade standards are being met along every step of the coffee bean preparation — from sourcing non-GMO plants, to protecting the growers, the harvesters, the packagers, and beyond.
Because we pride ourselves on being the “ResponsiBull Choice,” we of course use fair trade coffee, making sure you get impeccable service while still protecting the environment and the people who work to get you that coffee.