Check out these reader comments Justin Scott made on a previously posted GO Blog piece about improvements needed in the fair trade coffee system. The GO Blog is always looking for commentary by Fordham readers, so be sure to send in your thoughts on anything you see posted and get a dialogue going!
“I thoroughly enjoyed reading that post. I understand fair trade has its flaws and I know there are many ways for it to improve that are not being implemented. It does have a long way to go.
I think fair trade does need to learn to be recognized rather as a floor price, not a market price for coffee. I think coffee producers should get a minimum price for their efforts, if only to ensure they are not exploited by cost-cutting corporates. But there needs to be a system in place that recognizes higher quality producers, so that they are rewarded for their extra time and effort as they should be. In instances like As Green As it Gets’ it is definitely not fair to expect the producers to become fair trade certified and thus accept a lower wage.
I think is is important to understand that there are farmers that may treat the fair trade price as a gift and not work harder. They will continue to produce poor (low-quality) coffee, and still receive that basic price. But eventually, they will lose out, because they will be recognized as the poor quality version, and the producer who is producing high-quality beans will win. It will take time, but I think fair trade at least limits the number of producers that are exploited due to their desperate situation.
The most important aspect of fair trade is that it gives the movement, towards ethical consumption, a name. This lets people become advocates of ethical consumption, something to talk about, something to support, something to stand up and shout for. This gives the movement power, and direction, and a standard to live by, talk about, and defend. This is the benefit of fair trade above all else.
In a consumer driven economy, giving consumers something to talk about, and support, is what will give the movement momentum, what will make the change permanent. Fair Trade will not be permanent, because eventually the day will come where “fair trade”, the label, will no longer be required. Consumers will automatically know that their products will be made fairly, ethically and respectably. Because any company not doing so, will be boycotted by society and will not survive.”
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