I was a curious kid. I'd ask my parents all sorts of random questions that would float into my head: Why is the sky blue? How do birds fly? Who gets to make up words? Why does coffee smell good and taste bad? The answer my parents provided to that last question never satisfied me... "Well, I don't think it tastes bad honey." I promptly filed it away next to vanilla extract in my brain.But like many college freshmen, I came to know and love coffee quite well. It was able to provide a few extra hours of "studying" and even if I only thought the taste was tolerable, it got the job done.
Fast forward to today (it's only like, five years), and I've become something of a coffee/tea junkie. I make it every morning, have it at work, and sometimes get carried away with how much I drink (this is known as "Jittery Josh"). I recently watched the documentary "Black Gold" which looks at the coffee industry, and specifically, how little coffee farmers are being paid for their commodity.
Enter the Presbyterian Coffee Project, which works with Equal Exchange to provide an easy, convenient way to get fair trade coffee into churches. Purchasing fairly traded coffee supports farmers all over the globe by allowing them to sell coffee beans at a fair price, giving them the ability to pay their workers fair wages and grow the local infrastructure. Rather than relying on charity and foreign aide, these communities are able to create a robust, sustainable economy. Learn more about fair trade practices here.The Church is Alive. I'm encouraged by how in touch the PC(USA) seems to be with many of the larger social issues in the world today. The Presbyterian Coffee Project. Who'd have thought? I encourage everyone to make the effort to purchase fair trade coffee (and tea, sugar, chocolate, and nuts) at home and in their Church. It's not too expensive, and you'll know you're supporting a sustainable environment in a place that needs it most.
PS: Vanilla extract is not good by itself.
[Update] There has been some discussion concerning fair-trade coffee through the Presbyterian Coffee Project and through Starbucks.Starbucks has been selling fair-trade coffee products for a few years, and are to be commended for it. Equal Exchange offers great prices through the Presbyterian Coffee Project: Less than six bucks/bag when purchased in a case of six!
so besides the fact that starbucks is a major corportion, is there a difference between Starbucks fair trade and Presbyterian fair trade? Is one more fair than the other? I've heard fair trade is an iffy term so I'm just curious about whether one is more honest than the other. Of course I will always support the PC(USA) coffee project over Starbucks!
ReplyDeleteI went to the online store to purchase the PC(USA) fair trade coffee. I was shocked by the price. I decided to compare it to Starbucks. Starbucks has organic free trade coffee for a third of the price. I didn't expect that! Any explanation?
ReplyDeleteStarbucks can afford to be cheap? I really have no idea but it's worth looking into...I can ask a friend of mine who works for Starbucks but I don't know if a barrista would know
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments so far, everyone!
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I think the price discrepancy is coming from the quantity sold. The Equal Exchange site is selling a case of six 12oz packages of coffee, not individual packages. It works out to about $5.15 for your standard sized bag of coffee.
and Starbucks has just ONE variety of fair trade coffee. most of their coffee is not. our church has been part of the Presbyterian Coffee Project for several years, and have tried many varieties of their coffee. and they are all good! at PCP's cost of $5-6 for a 12 oz. bag, there's really no comparison.
ReplyDeleteEarlier this year Time Magazine had an article on "Fair Trade Coffee". In their research they found that most people that got into the "fair trade" coffee business had not increased their pay to farmers. I support the PCUSA coffee project along with a local coffee shop (the Dancing Goat) because they take seriously their committment and partnership with the farmers. The coffee I buy, from the Dancing Goat,does cost a little bit more (generally a couple of dollars), but it is important to me that farmers be paid fairly for their labor, crop, and time. In my experience I have found the Equal Exchange coffee very competitive in price, about $6 a bag.
ReplyDeleteI think actually knowing this, makes me a coffee geek. Yes, I check out that website! :)
I think those 10 Thousand Villages stores sell this kind of coffee! I typically pick some up from the store in Asheville. Have you guys seen the "15 Things Worth Knowing About Coffee"? Hysterical!
ReplyDeletehttp://theoatmeal.com/comics/coffee