Fair Trade, Free Markets, and the Bitter Fight Behind Your Morning Cup of Coffee

Vice.com has the story.

Today, thousands of Americans are opting to pay a premium for a cup of fair trade-certified coffee, yet few are aware of the implications of this choice. Fair trade is a movement that seeks to improve the lives of laborers at the bottom of the supply chain by encouraging consumers to pay a little extra. Initially associated with coffee, this movement has since expanded to encompass a wide range of products, from beer and vodka to smartphones and condoms. Even churches, synagogues, mosques, universities, and towns have adopted the fair trade model.

This Saturday marks World Fair Trade Day, a worldwide festival of events celebrating the movement as a tangible contribution to the fight against poverty and exploitation. However, the coffee industry has become embroiled in a fractious battle over the definition of fair trade. With different labels issued by various self-appointed authorities, the concept has become convoluted, with competing and sometimes opposing standards for different products. 

Dean Cycon, founder of Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Company, expressed his frustration: “People are so confused now about what fair trade actually means. You can thank Paul for a lot of that.”

Read the full story on Vice.com.

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