fair coffee Exploited coffee farmers focus of consumer campaign Catherine Barr Contributing Writer ATTENTION coffee drinkers: There is something you ought to know about your daily cup of joe. We import it by the ton and drink it by the gallon. Many people will say they can’t survive without it. Just count the number of specialty coftce shops in any neighborhood and it is casy to understand how today's cof- fee culture has grown into a “The Fair Trade Labeling Organization, established in 1987 in the Netherlands, iden- tifies fair trade coffee by placing their logo on the product.” billion dott tar industry. Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world after oil. Look beyond the pleasure and profits and it becomes clear that coffee is much more than just a beverage for some people — it is a tough, unfair way of life. “Just having a cup of cof- you don’t realize what lies it,” said Kathleen Ruff. “The small farmers are sutfering great hardship.” Ruft, a West Vancouver sident and former director of the BC Human Rights commission, is heading up an awareness campaign to pro- mote fair trade for exploited coffee producers. “Over 60% (of the world's coffec) is produced by small farmers with small acreages said Ruff. “What happens is they, in fact, get only 10% of the price that we pay for our coffee.” She goes on to say that the coffee industry is dominated by four powerful multination- al companies that — control approximately 70% of the entire industry. “They make very good profits,” said Ruff. She explains that) smail producers need to sell their coffee beans to these compa- nies to do the roasting, trans- porting and retailing. “So they (the small farmers) are kind of at their mercy (and) are easily exploited,” she said. In_ addition, small farmers often need to take out a loan to survive until they are paid for their harvests. Middle men, known as “coyotes,” exploit the farmers further by charging them interests rates as high as 200%. Suill, there is a chance that things could get better. 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A meeting was held at the church Feb. 14 to discuss ways to support exploited coffee growers. coffee together and_ realize better returns. With the help of the awareness being raised by people like Ruff, it seems to be working. The Fair Trade Labeling Organization, established in 1987 in the Netherlands, identifies fair trade coffee by placing their logo on the product, This guarantees that the farmers will receive market price. The organization has also arranged a system by which a farmer can receive a loan at the going rates. This allows them to avoid the local “coy- otes,” or loan sharks. eral ecumenical and development groups _ like Ixfam, (Oxford — Famine Relict), have linked up in soli- darity to further the co-op project. Yen Days for Global Justice, a campaign spoensored by a coaliton) of major Canadian churches, recently invited Rutf to speak abour the cause. The occasion, held ac West Vancouver Presbyterian Chureh, addressed the global justice coffee project. Fair- trade coffee and home-made muffins were served at the gathering. When asked if fair-trade coffee costs more than other coffee, Ruffexplained that it is comparable in price. “It is Arabica coffee, a better quali- ty, and is maybe one cent a cup more.” She said that any profits are channeled back to the co-op community ro pay for mruch needed schools and - a part of most said Ruff. © ARRIVALS) fecrae SHORE ‘iynn Valley: Ceritre. Y 904-9755 1°, All blinds up to 6’w - $8.50/blind All verticals - $1.49/vane FREE Pick-up & Delivery Alice’s Ultrasonic Blind Cieanin “ < 240-6068. BCAA Trafalgar Tours present Britain & Europe Join us for up-to-date tour ‘Information... When: Thurs. Feb 26th Where: Cheshire Cheese Inn at Lonsdale Quay Time: 6:30pm Admission: $9.95 (includes Fish @& Chips dinner; RSVP: by Feb 24th 990-1546 “When vou buy fair-trade cof- fee you are supporting small farming establishments and not big plantations which u massive chemicals and p cides which destroy forests.” Ruff remains optimistic and says that some major cof- fee chains and supermarkets are willing to carry fair-trade products if consumers ask for them. “When you start looking at what actually happens, you say this is wrong,” said Ruff. “We keep forgetting about the rain S Enirance in rear lane dealing ICBC human side of it. And so much of trade is based on human exploitation and that’s : yale iS interested in ordering fair-trade coffee can call the Bridgehead Store at 1- 800-463-4143, Mangoes and Beans at 1-888-246-8582, or Just Us! coffee roasters at 1- 888-668-8436. All numbers are toll free. You can also con- race Oxtam at 736-7678. 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