Anti-Corporate Globalization Campaign
Fair Trade Coffee
February 2004
The People's Alliance Anti-corporate globalization campaign focus for February is fair trade coffee. For many of use, coffee is not so much a luxury item, but rather al essential part of our morning routine. Unfortunately, due to "free market reforms" and IMF "structural adjustment" programs, much of the coffee we consume in the United States was grown by exploited farmers in South America and South-East Asia. Over the last ten years, world coffee prices have dropped dramatically and specialty coffee has lost more than half its per pound price since 1998. This has put thousands of coffee growers to lose their livelihood. Reports say that in the tens of thousands of Mexicans have fled there fields in order to find other sources of income while 30,000 jobs have been eliminated in El Salvador and 60,000 coffee producers in Nicaragua are at risk of losing their land.
While coffee growers are suffering, the big players in the coffee industry are racking in record profits. Lower prices mean big profits for the companies like Folgers, Kraft, and Nestle. These three companies have done nothing to address the crisis facing coffee growers worldwide. Nor have they agreed to carry “fair trade” coffee, coffee that has been purchased at an ethical price level. Sara Lee and Starbucks, Have introduced on fair trade line, but still the majority of the coffee they sell and market is not fair trade.
Fortunately, there are alternatives to the big food conglomerates. More and more, independent businesses are selling and promoting fair trade coffee. Here in Grand Rapids, there are several establishments that sell or serve fair trade coffee.
Fair Trade Coffee Retailers in Grand Rapids, Michigan
The following is a list of places in the Grand Rapids area that purchase some of these coffees. These businesses have neither authorized these listings, nor is this a complete list.
- DILLENBECK’S COFFEE SHOP West Fulton
Owner Jim Francis is said to be a social justice thinker, and they have coffee supplied by Ferris. 3/03 - FERRIS COFFEE & NUT – 227 Winter NW – Roaster
Various Fair trade, shade grown and organic - FOUR FRIENDS – Fair trade available
- HARVEST HEALTH – 1944 Eastern SE and 6807 Cascade Rd.
Equal Exchange (shade grown, organic, fair trade), Higher Grounds, and others - GLOBAL GIFTS – 3010 Shaffer SE - Fair trade available
- MORNINGSTAR 76 (formerly Gold Coffee Co.) Wealthy St.
- MORNINGSTAR 75 (formerly 10 Weston Gallery) 10 Weston St.
All eight varieties are shade grown in Central American co-ops, and are not certified fair trade, but do fit all criteria. All coffees are $5 per pound, and are served by the cup as well. 6/11/02 - SCHUIL COFFEE – 3679 29th St SE - Roaster
Per Greta Schuil, all growers receive a minimum of $1.26 per pound, and so are equivalent to fair trade but not certified. 9/30/03 - URBAN MILL – One fair trade coffee available
What You Can Do Promote Fair Trade Coffee in West Michigan!
- Buy Fair Trade Certified coffee. Purchase your coffee at the above listed businesses.
- Ask for Fair Trade Certified coffee at local cafes and grocery stores that do not currently carry them. Let them know that you will only do business at establishments that carry Fair Trade coffee.
- Educate yourself and your community, find out more at Global Exchange Coffee Campaign and Organic Consumers Association
- Organize a Fair Trade campaign! Pass a Purchasing Restriction to ensure that your community serves only Fair Trade coffee. Download an action pack here
- Protest Folgers’ exploitation of farmers and their refusal to buy Fair Trade coffee. Write: AG Lafley, President and Chief Executive, Proctor & Gamble, 1 Procter & Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati, OH, 45201, call: 800-937-9745 fax: 513-983-8388 email: www.pg.com, click on "contact us."
- Support the Global Exchange National Fair Trade campaign. Find out how you can support Global Exchange at their website
