Organic Fair Trade Coffee Is Good for the Planet

Coffee! The eye opening elixir. Coffee! Black, drinkable, the energizing drink that livens our lives. Coffee! A long history from an exotic unknown berry to a massive commodity production, back to exotic again. And what a past this bitter black beverage has had. The dancing goats, to high volume commodity sales, to the near extinction of the finest of quality coffee beans, the art of growing and handling coffee berries has never died. It has only been altered though out time.
Coffee! The eye opening elixir. Coffee! Black, drinkable, the energizing drink that livens our lives. Coffee! A long history from an exotic unknown berry to a massive commodity production, back to exotic again. One must hand it to that little coffee shop from Seattle that now encompasses the globe. They sure did take the world by storm. In one fell swoop that little coffee company took a commodity beverage and cast it back into the exotic drinkable realm where it was born from as well as distorting the beauty of specialty gourmet coffee for future generations. What is now perceived as a quality coffee bean has traveled back to the art of commodity coffee. The competition on the street corner for a drinkable cup of coffee has become fierce. Each brewer says that their brew is the "perfect cup of coffee". However they all grab from the same commodity level stocks. Of course without these commodity grown stocks coffee would be in greatly diminished supplies. Yes, coffee is in diminished supply. That is the supply of good quality coffee beans had almost vanished over the last couple of decades as corner boutiques converted to the ravishing corner coffee shop.

There is a change! Finally there is a change in the air. The very small boutique coffee shop and coffee roaster is finally allowed the glory of finding high quality coffee beans once again. Small farm and niche green coffee beans are now becoming available to the fair trade coffee market. Quality organic coffee is being selectively grown just for the small independent coffee roasting operations.
Finally we have coffee drinkers who care more and mnre about the people of the Earth and the planet that we live on. We now have coffee drinkers who care about the survival of coffee farmers and the lands on which the coffee bean is grown. There are specialty coffee drinkers who cherish the survival and health of our mother earth.
Sustainable Organic Fair Trade Coffee is fin`lly becoming a household request. Fair trade is good for the people. Organic coffee is healthier for you as well as giving health back to our planet.
Fair trade coffee provides a fair platform for the whole supply chain of this wonderful drink. Fair trade coffee beans mean fair prices for those who drink it. It may not be the cheapest coffee to buy however for the quality and sustainability the prices are equitable. It also provides better wages and living conditions for those who grow and produce the sought after bean. Fair trade is an agreement between farmers, workers, shippers, and consumers to bare about each other and everyone involved. After all that is what community and health is all about.

Foresight by coffee growers proved beneficial. The few that saw a future for renewed exotic demand set course with new direction. Armed with a brighter knowledge these coffee plantations moved away from the distorted massive commodity market left to flounder by that little coffee shop from Seattle. These foresight seers set their sights on a smaller specialty marketplace. This knowledge was that there would be a need for finely grown and carefully cared for coffee beans. They knew that the land was important, that their community was important, and the survival of quality coffee was important. There would be a need for carefully grown, hand selected, artistically roasted, and rushed to the discerning consumers waiting coffee grinder and brewing system coffee. Out of the fair trade coffee supply grew the expertise to market the perfect cup of coffee. Quality fair trade organic coffee beans are available. Still a consumer can find the organic coffee they seek for their cup of coffee at the corner commodity brewer. Astute coffee drinkers find it a poor substitute for the real experience of fine coffee.

Those coffee drinkers with the discerning desire for the perfect bitter tinged elixir must still seek the out of the way roasters to fulfill their needs. They must discover the hidden gems in the coffee roasting world. And, yes, there are those little gems and merchants, imports, roasters, and sellers. And yes there are many who like yourself desire their cup of coffee to stand out as the pure enjoyment of a cup of coffee should be. After all tingling taste buds and allowing your senses to dance around the flavors of coffee is what life is all about. Allowing your mouth to wrap around the delicate chocolate or nutty earth flavors of the coffee bean and the smoky power of a fine roast is what we seek as a coffee drinker.
If, and when, you find that little quality niche coffee shop hold onto it tight allowing it to grow and become sustainable. Seek out the online coffee merchant that has done the leg work of finding the best roasters and fastest service. Get that cup of coffee. Get your organic blend. Get the roast you desire. Get the fair trade coffee beans you deserve. Don't let go.

Yes, people drink coffee to stimulate their minds for the long stress filled hour of the day. Stimulating the senses is more important as well. Awakening the olfactory system with quality flavor from specialty hand selected coffee puts the shear aspect of the lowly commodity coffee production into a totally insignificant perspective. Hum drum becomes the everyday ordinary cup of coffee sold at all of the corner coffee shops. Taste bud boredom is a crime of depriving the human senses of ecstasy that we all crave and deserve. Alive taste buds cause the human being to be alive, excited, and adventurous in our every day activities. Start your day with an eye opening sense grabbing cup of coffee and know that your day will be brighter more enjoyable and full of experience. And further know that when you purchase great organic fair trade coffee that you are caring for the planet that gives us our daily life.

Brad Keller, a coffde enthusiast that appreciates not only exceptional coffee but also the health of our environment as well as the community we call the Earth. Brad is the owner of Your Online Coffee, who's specialty is the trade of freshly roasted Organic Coffee and Fair Trade Coffee Beans.
Coffee is such an important part of our lives. Visit http://www.youronlinecoffee.com and explore more about coffee, the history, what we drink, fair trade, and so much more. Coffee is a special drink and holds a special place in our culture and the future of our planet.

What is Fair Trade Certified Coffee?

The mission of Fair Trade Certified is to support a better life for farming families in the developing world through fair prices, direct trade, community development and environmental stewardship. Fair Trade Certified began as Max Havelaar in the Netherlands in the 1970's.
Now the German-based Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) interacts with more than twenty national branches throughout the world. In addition, the coffee is also certified organic. Prices vary by coffee type.

This certification has participation from countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Rwanda, Tanzania, Thailand, and Uganda.
What does Fair Trade Certification mean?

• Family farmers receive fair prices for their harvest.
• The community shares in specific development projects.
• Higher premiums than usual are available for certified organic products.
• In addition, pre-harvest credits are made available to farmer organizations.
• The farmers' health and preservation of valuable ecosystems for future generations are at the heart of the environmental sustainability of fair trade practices.
• Agrichemicals considered harmful are prohibited for use in fair trade farming.
• Farmers protect the land and the wildlife habitat through the use of intercropping plant species, soil fertility improvement practices, and erosion control measures. They also practice water conservation, proper waste disposal and respect protected lands.

Does Trade Fair farming restrict workers' rights of free association and work?

• No. Workers are free to associate in groups and enjoy safe working conditions as well as fair wages.
• Forced child labor practices are not allowed.
• Importers purchase from Fair Trade coffee producers as directly as possible.
• This practice eliminates unnecessary middlemen and helps farmers to compete in the coffee trade more freely and easily.
• In general, the Fair Trade practices are democratic and encourage farmers and farm workers to decide as a group how to invest Fair Trade revenues.
• This certification requires a proof of the democratic process to keep the activities as "transparent" as possible.
• Fair Trade premiums are usually invested in community development projects such as education, school grants, scholarship awards, healthcare services or other training programs.

What would be an example of how Fair Trade Certification improves farmers' living conditions?

• An example would be the Highland Organic Agriculture Cooperative Ltd (HOAC).
• This is an organization of small farmers in the remote Eastern Highlands Province of the Okapa Region of Papua New Guinea, created in 2004.
• The coffee growers in Okapa are true quality coffee growers who needed a way to join forces in order to discuss community issues such as poor road access, sanitation, education and other social concerns. Since its formation, the group has purchased desks, textbooks and other materials for the schools which open doors for better future opportunities for their children.
• One example of coffee from Papua New Guinea is Papua New Guinea AA Estate.
• This is Specialty Arabica coffee appreciated for its rich, unique characteristics. The highest quality earns a grade of AA Estate. This is a true gourmet specialty coffee. This coffee features a pleasing full body, crisp acidity and a clean taste that finishes sweet. The aroma is luxurious with hints of tropical fruit such as mangoes and papayas.

So, ready for a nice cup of coffee and good coffee music?

Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.