Serving A Cup Of Justice

A few months ago, I had a great cup of coffee. I was at church with my parents and was sitting around with them and some friends during the social time between Sunday School and the Sunday morning service. When I asked what kind of coffee it was, it soon tasted even better. Christ United Church of Christ of Latrobe, Pennsylvania participates in an interfaith coffee program with a company from Bridgewater, MA called Equal Exchange, the oldest and largest for-profit Fair Trade company in the United States. First of all, the purpose of Fair Trade is to guarantee farmers a minimum price for their commodity. This is done by eliminating the many corporate layers that typically exist between the farmer and the consumer. Coffee is one of the most heavily traded commodities in the world, but most of its growers live in poverty throughout Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Due to the nature of their business, they live in rural communities isolated from markets and are forced to accept lowprices. Many lack suitable housing, healthcare, and education; they cannot obtain affordable credit to expand or adapt their farms, and are trapped in the cycle of poverty.

Equal Exchange works with co-op programs, faith-based organizations and human rights groups to help such farmers learn about Fair Trade, obtain affordable credit, and improve their lives. Many of these farmers learn to invest in sustainable agriculture, cultivating organic crops such as shade-grown coffee. Their partnership with this system also enables them to obtain organic certification for their products. Equal Exchange lists as one of their business commitments: "To encourage ecologically sustainable farming practices that help build a long-term economic base for farmers while protecting their communities, the environment and consumers from dangerous chemicals."

Organic coffee farming has many benefits. No toxic chemicals are applied for the safety of the farmer - men, women AND children. Shade-tree cultivation of coffee and cocoa preserves the biodiversity of the region and provides a chemical-free habitat for millions of migratory song birds. And, a certified organic product contains no genetically-modified ingredients. That means the milk from the cow is genuine, and without hormones. There are many other products available from Equal Exchange. They include: cocoa, chocolate bars, sugar and tea. This past year also saw the addition of products like dried cranberries and almonds grown by farmers in the United States. The next time you shop for coffee, consider trying a cup of justice - for the earth and its people.

- Cathi Gerhard Williams