To many Americans, "Fair Trade" is a term, which they have never heard. I used to be one of these ignorant Americans! (Notice I didn't say "stupid", a term used all too frequently when the world talks about Americans! Americans are not stupid, but we may, at times be "ignorant", especially of issues outside of our country, and especially if CNN doesn't cover it every day! Sorry, I digress!) If you are ignorant about Fair Trade, allow me enlighten you.

A Brief History

The "Fair Trade Movement" began following the end of World War II, in the late 1940's. At first, various Christian religious organizations, notably the Mennonite and Catholic churches in the United States, began forming fair trade supply chains to bring handcrafted items from "Third World" countries to America. The goal was simple--to help those living in underdeveloped countries supplement their meager income. The items sold to Americans were mostly of a "decorative" nature.

In the late 1950's, Oxfam UK began selling craft items made by Chinese refugees in their Oxfam shops in Great Britain. In 1964, Oxfam UK formed the very first "Fair Trade Organization".  About the same time, interest in Fair Trade was growing in the Netherlands, which led to the establishment of "Fair Trade Organisatie", an importing organization, in 1967. The Dutch third world groups became the first to sell a product that was not a craft item, namely cane sugar. By 1969, the first "Third World Shops" were opening for business. Called "World Shops" (or "Fair Trade" shops), they played a vital role in growth of the Fair Trade Movement by not only providing points of sales but have also been active in campaigning for and raising awareness of worldwide fair trade.

In 1973, "Fair Trade Organisatie" in the Netherlands imported the first "fairly traded" coffee, purchased from small farmer cooperatives in Guatemala. In the years since, fairly traded agricultural products have become important to the mix of Fair Trade products. Along with coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, wine, fruit juices, nuts, spices and rice have been enjoying rapid sales growth as awareness of Fair Trade products has expanded into new world markets.

Today, Fair Trade food products can be found in supermarkets, small shops and coffeehouses across the United States and the world, and their market share continues to grow. Even Starbucks has started selling Fair Trade coffee (even though it’s a very small amount compared to the other coffees they sell)!

A Note About Fair Trade Coffee

There is another benefit to buying coffee that is grown in small farmer-owned cooperatives and sold using Fair Trade practices: it's naturally organic! I'll try and make this explanation real simple.

Almost all coffee sold in the world today is grown on large coffee farms that have been hacked out of the tropical rain forests. The coffee plants grown on these farms have to be tolerant of the strong tropical sun and pesticides must be used to protect the crop from insects. This has led not only to deforestation of the rain forest, but pollution due to pesticide use.

By contrast, organic fair trade coffee is grown on small family-owned farms under the protecting canopy of the larger rain forest trees (this coffee is also known as "shade grown" for obvious reasons). These coffee plants have much less problems with insects, which means pesticides are unnecessary, which is better for the farmers and the environment!

So, by buying, brewing and drinking "Fair Trade, organic, shade-grown" coffee, you are not only helping the farmers provide for their families, you are also protecting the environment! (And you thought you were just getting your caffeine fix!)

Now, you may be wondering about cost. Granted, "Fair Trade, organic, shade-grown" coffee is a little more expensive than some coffees, but not that much more than other specialty coffees and better for the growers and the environment!

What's the bottom line?

HELP YOUR FELLOW MAN, BUY FAIR TRADE!