Posts Tagged ‘Coffee’

Writing the Book on Coffee and Development

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

CRS Coffeelands blogger, Michael Sheridan recounts a visit with CRS Fair Trade coffee partner Dean’s Beans. Readers of Dean’s book, Javatrekker, know all about his approach to great coffee and development. Michael learns that Dean just might have another book in the works. Find out more about his afternoon of good coffee and discussion with Dean at the CRS Coffeelands blog.

http://coffeelands.crsdomains.org/2010/06/writing-the-book-on-coffee-and-development/

How Fair Trade Spreads

Friday, June 18th, 2010

The sale of Fair Trade certified products has been growing by double-digits for several years now. There are many reasons for that, and one is that Fair Traders spread the word and lend their efforts to economic justice. Fair Trade Ambassador of Michigan, Sue Amman, shares one example of success:

My family has been promoting Fair Trade in our parish, . St. Hubert’s in Higgins Lake for a few years. The parish uses Fair Trade coffee and we have had a few Divine chocolate sales and a Christmas Work of Human Hands crafts sale. We are also the Peace and Justice committee for our parish and have often reported our Fair Trade doings at the Vicariate Peace and Justice monthly meetings.

As a result of these meetings the Peace and Justice person from St. Mary’s in Grayling asked us to talk on Fair Trade to her Parish Council in April. With her council’s blessing, Barb had her first Fair Trade Coffee and chocolate sale after the Masses last weekend!

A smiling Barb with new Fair Traders


I wore my new ambassador’s shirt and went to lend moral support and take pictures. Barb was delighted at the turn out and the sales. St. Mary’s Pastor, Fr. James Bearss was around to lend support. He was joined by the Parish Council President, Jack Pilon (photo by Sue for CRS). Barb’s enthusiasm bubbled over and she began working on Fr. James and Jack to have a Fair Trade booth at the up-coming AuSable Canoe Marathon. The marathon, which is the longest canoe race in the United States, starts in Grayling and ends in Oscoda 120 miles later. Exactly what the Fair Trade booth would sell is up in the air. They may sell chocolate or they may partner with Higher Grounds Trading and sell brewed coffee. There may be an educational booth. Regardless of the final outcome the neat thing is Fair Trade is in the front of their minds.

Nicaragua Visit: Fair Trade, Strong Faith

Thursday, June 17th, 2010


Deacon Kevin Carges is a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Rochester. He traveled to Nicaragua as part of the Global Fellows program.

Today was a tremendous day as we met with those who are part of PRODECOOP , a group of over 2,300 participants. Each producer on average has a family of five, thus the lives of over 10,000 people are being touched in some way with the support of CRS.

They have been able to work together as community establishing better growing techniques that have resulted in all benefitting. Opportunities with Fair Trade have greatly enhanced their status in life. Producers create better quality coffee thus resulting in better prices paid for their crops and resulting in better living standards for the people.

I think the corporate executive of the company said it best, “We are trying to make the family strong.” What a wonderful statement of solidarity. With the additional income, they are working towards empowering women, establishing medical support, making sure the children receive an education and addressing environmental concerns among other things.

All are welcome, all are cared for, and they understand that all will flourish as a result.

I think sometimes we in the powerful countries of the First World feel like the superior ones, having all the money and that we can teach the Third World (how to do it right). But after meeting with PRODECOOP today, I think it is they who should be showing us how to do it right. They are the ones who understand how God is calling us to live. We are all one family under God. We should all work towards making this family strong!

A prayer reflection upon leaving:

Dear Lord, what can we do as mere humans, but give you thanks and praise for the experience of Nicaragua that you have blessed us with.

Ten of us came together less than two weeks ago, unfamiliar with each other, traveling to a place we did not know, to encounter the unseen and what was yet to happen. All we had was faith in You and Your servant CRS to guide us.
Upon our arrival in Nicaragua and over the days, we were astounded by your beauty, taught by your wisdom, humbled by your love, and filled with your hope. How can we not leave this country shouting from our hearts of your great majesty.
We answered Your call by faith, and in response, we were rewarded with Your abundant grace, and blessed by drawing ever closer to You, our Savior.

As we separate and go our individual ways, we will always share this special gift of Nicaragua and be reminded, we are all one family. We leave in faith to continue on our journey, and to share our experiences of You, through the beauty of a country, and the love and hope of our brothers and sisters.

Deacon Kevin Carges (right) and Fr. James Conlon listen to a local coffee farmer as he explains how PRODECOOP has helped increase his production and sales. Photo by Mikaele Sansone/CRS

Coffee trees which were planted as part of CRS’ initiative with PRODECOOP. Photo by Mikaele Sansone/CRS

Transparency Key to a Democratic Economic Model for All

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Guest blogger Matt Earley, of CRS Fair Trade coffee partner Just Coffee in Madison, WI, provides a different perspective on the various trading models, emphasizing transparency above all else.

When we talk about “fair trade”, it would make perfect sense to assume that we are speaking of a system that everyone agrees upon. And it is true that the ideals and beliefs behind fair trade are largely universal. The basic philosophy appreciates the fact that small-scale commodity producers, particularly in the global south, have long been underpaid and exploited in the global economy. However, the systems that have sprung up around the idea of guaranteeing producers better prices and more stable relationships have attacked this problem in surprisingly different ways.

Over the years systems and certifications that focus on the social conditions of producers and their communities have grown in popularity and prominence. There are many opinions about which of these systems can actually bring the most benefits to producers and to the coffee drinkers who choose to support these systems. And to most of us, it is very hard to tell which brings the most benefits based on the claims that companies using these systems make. So what is a conscious consumer to do?

Some of the more prominent systems within the coffee market are Mission-Based Fair Trade, Certified Fair Trade, and Direct Trade. Below I will give a brief outline of each of these approaches.

1) Mission-Based Fair Trade: Many mission-based fair traders see themselves as creating an alternative system that operates within, but at the same time against, the “free market”. These companies consider themselves to be “fair trade companies” as opposed to companies that sell some products that are fairly traded and some that are not. Many of these companies use FLO’s Fair Trade certification, but just as many do not. Many belong to fair trade networks such as the Fair Trade Federation or the World Fair Trade Organization. These companies and people are generally dedicated to knowing the people producing the products they sell and tend to identify fair trade as a social movement and not simply a system of minimum standards.

2) Fair Trade Certified: These companies who sell products that are certified by the Fair Trade Labeling Orgaization and their national intitatives. The companies using this scheme are not “certified”, but rather certain products that they sell are certified. There are many mission-based fair traders using the certification system as well, but there are many using the system that are not mission-based at all. Many of these are big businesses that sell only a portion of their products under fair trade terms, although in some cases this small percentage of overall product can represent huge numbers. These companies are generally not interested in the idea of creating a better overall model, but rather they recognize that by using the certification and its label they can tap into a fast-growing market segment. And some of these companies are shifting to selling more Fair Trade Certified products because it is proving to be profitable as well as “the right thing to do”.

3) Direct Trade: Recently covered well on the CRS Coffelands blog by CRS’s Michael Sheridan, Direct Traders share some of the base philosophies of mission-based fair traders and of companies carrying Fair Trade Certified products. Direct Traders also stress direct relationships with producers and paying farmers a higher price for their coffee. Instead of approaching producer challenges by addressing the politics of production and exportation, they stress producing high quality as the means for an individual farmer to procure a higher price for his or her beans. The companies that use this approach promote it as an alternative to Fair Trade that is based more on the traditional free trade model that stresses competition among farmers over systemic market change. They also buy coffee from large and small plantations where workers do not own the land as well as from cooperatives where producers own their plots. Mission-based FTer’s coffee and FTC products only come from small-producer co-ops.

With all of this information we can begin to debate which approach more closely meets our criteria as a conscious consumer. Is being 100% fair trade important to you? Is price-point your biggest issue? Are you a seeker of the highest quality small lots of coffee? These are all great points to discuss, but when we do so we skip over whether companies making ethically-based claims are giving us the total picture. Without one important lense, all of these approaches amount to little more than marketing-speak. The lense that we should seek out is transparency in business practices.

When all coffee companies (and other companies, for that matter) back up their claims by showing us their financial documents (contracts, P&Ls, etc) consumers can make informed decisions about what they want to buy. Making consumer decisions based on facts as opposed to marketing would allow us all to choose the model we want to support according to whether or not it actually meets our standards. That would be true economic democracy. With true financial transparency, all of us could decide on the true “fairness” of business practices based on hard information as opposed to smart marketing claims.

Most companies do not offer this type of information at this point in time, however it is our right as consumers to know what we support when we give them our money. Every time we spend money we are making a choice to support the business model of the company we purchase from, therefore we have the right and obligation to know what exactly we are paying for. When we ask businesses for transparency we are helping to build as better democratic economic model for all.

What is Direct Trade?

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

As the “big three” Direct Trade coffee companies, Intelligentsia, Counter Culture and Stumptown, gain more prominence on the national coffee scene, we’ve been getting more questions about Direct Trade and how it compares to Fair Trade. For great background information on Direct Trade, as well as some thoughtful reflection of its impact on coffee farmers, check out the CRS Coffeelands Blog. Our colleague in Guatemala, Michael Sheridan, has very eloquently summed up the various perspectives on Direct Trade and left the door open for discussion.

Michael Sheridan/CRS

New Fair Trade Ambassadors Trained at Higher Grounds

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

We have an outstanding economic justice team here at Catholic Relief Services in Baltimore, backed up by skilled and spirited regional colleagues across the nation. But with 68 million Catholics to reach, our work would be impossible were it not for volunteers. This weekend a select group of folks, whom we call “Ambassadors,” were trained at Higher Grounds Trading in Traverse City, MI. Accompanied by staff from SERRV and Just Coffee, 19 Ambassadors dug deep into how Fair Trade embodies Catholic social teaching and enhances spiritual journeys, what some of the challenges are facing the movement, and how word-of-mouth-marketing can help us all increase participation in the CRS Fair Trade program.

Here is how one from new Ambassador. Sr. Marie Nakitende, jumped into her role as Ambassador:

“I am delighted to say that I had a great time. I enjoyed meeting and interacting with everybody and learned so much about CRS Fair Trade that weekend. As you see in the photoPhoto by CRS, my face is smiling with a CRS Fair Trade cap or (Baseball Cap as people call it). I had a safe trip to Milwaukee. And I am glad to tell you that since I came back I have been wearing my CRS Fair Trade cap every day. This cap has drawn people’s attention, some have been wondering why a “nun” puts a baseball cap on a veil and others are interested to know about CRS Fair Trade. So, if you do not know where or how to start, simply put on your CRS Fair Trade Cap or T-Shirt and see.”

That kind of spunk and commitment is why Sr. Marie is an Ambassador. You can announce your support of CRS Fair Trade too by using our free “I’m a Fan” stickers. Write on our Facebook wall or write us to request your own!

More to View for World Fair Trade Day

Friday, May 7th, 2010

We just posted about a great new Fair Trade video. If slideshows are more your thing, check out a view of this youth retreat sponsored by the CRS Fair Trade Fund. Young people from Florida learned directly about Fair Trade through service and the wisdom of CRS Fair Trade coffee partners of Cafe Campesino.

p.s. Don’t forget to act in solidarity yourself through the Fair Trade My Home pledge and raffle

Just in Time: New Fair Trade Video

Friday, May 7th, 2010

Just in time for World Fair Trade Day, CRS is proud to release, Fair Trade: A Parish Story .  This video quickly but powerfully shares how St. Camillus parish in Silver Spring, MD is building solidarity through Fair Trade.  Click to watch
A Parish Story On You Tube

Right now is also a good time to take the Fair Trade My Home pledge.  Monday is the deadline for committing to support CRS partners and entering into a raffle to win Haitian art!

One Earth Day: Two Pledges

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

On the occasion of Earth Day, we encourage you to deepen your commitment to the Fair Trade principle of environmental stewardship.  Consider taking the St. Francis Pledge to care for creation.  Today is also a great time to Fair Trade Your Home in advance of World Fair Trade Day, May 8.

The theme of WFTD  is Fair Trade My Home linking our lives to the livelihoods of our brothers and sisters around the world.  Producers need to provide for their households.   Consumers like you have the opportunity to bring Fair Trade food, decorations, jewelry and more into your own home in acts of solidarity shopping.     To Fair Trade Your Home is easy and fun. Our friends at the Fair Trade Resource Network have put together a tool kit of resources and come up with several contests to inspire you.

We here at CRS Fair Trade have a contest of our own: every person who takes the Fair Trade My Home pledge–meaning promises to use one product from a CRS Fair Trade partner in the year 2010–will be entered into a raffle to win Haitian artwork from our Work of Human Hands catalog.

Here’s how to participate:

1) Fill out the pledge form attached and return it to fairtrade “at” crs.org before May 10.  Don’t forget to buy a product for your home from our crafts, coffee, and chocolate partners.   WFTD Pledge Card 2010

2) Plan a Work of Human Hands sale, a Raise Money Right chocolate fundraiser, a Fair Trade coffee tasting or other fun event using CRS Fair Trade partner products.   Encourage attendees to take the Fair Trade My Home pledge and return this downloadable WFTD pledge tally sheet to fairtrade “at” crs.org by May 10.

This day and every day Fair Trade gives us a chance to embrace the principles of Catholic social teaching such as care of god’s creation and working for the common good.  Join us in putting principles into practice.

Keeping Up With Specialty Coffee

Friday, April 16th, 2010

After a lovely afternoon visiting with our CRS West staff and hearing Rigoberto, a coffee producer from the MICHIZA cooperative, present to a group in San Diego, I am now in Anaheim at the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s conference. While Fair Trade and other sustainable certification groups have sometimes been on the edges of the Specialty Coffee world, the Specialty Coffee Association is taking strides to bring sustainable coffee into the fold. During this conference there will be panels dealing specifically with global issues in coffee, such as gender and equality in the coffee fields and how to track these sustainable initiatives. One session, called Hunger in the Coffeelands, will have CRS staffer Michael Sheridan on the panel. To read more of Michael’s reflections on SCAA check out CRS’s new coffee page.

As I make my way through the global issues lectures, I’ll be posting the interesting tidbits on our Facebook page. Become a CRS Fair Trade facebook  fan and keep up with the Specialty Coffee Conference.

Rigoberto and CRS staff in San Diego