April 5th Green Tip of the Week

Question: Where can I get Fair Trade Coffee?  I keep hearing it is good for the environment.

Answer: It’s closer than you may think.  We have all Fair Trade Coffee in the Main Dining Room, the Snack Bar, and Canisius.  We’re moving toward all Fair Trade at Jazzman’s.  We can thank Jim Fitzpatrick and Sodhexo for this green progress.

The Fair Trade movement fights for the world’s small coffee farmers.  The point is to make sure they get a fair price for their coffee and thus a decent living wage.  “Fair Trade Certified” means there is independent oversight, guaranteeing no sweatshops.

Fair trade protects the environment as well as workers. Why?  Because small farmers don’t clear forests, and they don’t use chemical fertilizers and pesticides—they don’t have the money. Their coffee is usually organic and shade-grown, in mixed plots.  Click here for the history of coffee-growing and the environment.

And click here for a list of companies that sell Fair Trade coffee.  If you’re off campus, you can find it at Trader Joe’s, Border’s, Starbucks, Safeway, Shaws, and Whole Foods.  Fair Trade coffee is labeled TransFair USA.

Thanks for asking.   : )