Many coffee lovers and non-coffee lovers alike have heard the term 'fair trade coffee' but what is it? It is a wonderful, revolutionary way of doing business that truly needs to spread to other industries as well.

First off, what many people are beginning to realize is that many of the coffee plantations are basically sweat shops. Workers are paid terrible wages and are forced to work in horrendous conditions. Often, due to the market demands of increasing one's profits, the coffee farmers have to sell their coffee for less than they spend in production. The problem is obvious: a cycle of increasing poverty and unfairness for these smaller farms. Thus, the huge coffee production facilities which make less quality coffee and have questionable practices are drumming out these smaller farmers. This is not okay.

Fair trade coffee basically insures and requires that certain strict requirements are met in the buying and selling of coffee. One of these requirements, currently, is that an importer must pay no less than $1.26 per pound of coffee in order to be termed Fair Trade. Furthermore, importers are required to give credit to farmers and even help them improve their practices. As a recent development, Fair Trade certifications are pushing a move to organic coffee farming practices.

In essence, Fair Trade Coffee is the coffee industry with a regulated and accountable conscience. We can only pray and demand that other industries begin to practice such an approach to capitalism, as it could quite simply change the world.

Learn more about this author, Jared Garrett.
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