PLYMOUTH- The second annual International Convergence of the United Students for Fair Trade (USFT) was held February 18-21 in Chicago, IL. Over three hundred participants spanning the globe participated in the conference. Among them was PSU student and Fair Trade activist Andrew McLean. The goal of the USFT is to bring Fair Trade to campuses across the nation and to see Fair Trade policies employed by nations all around the world. The primary focus of the conference was to empower less powerful countries, which are the primary providers of most coffee bean crops.
McLean commented that the Sidewalk Cafe does offer Fair Trade coffee. They always offer regular Fair Trade coffee and sometimes offer different flavors. He also emphasized, “It is important for people to ask for [Fair Trade Coffee] because it creates demand and people start asking ‘what is this Fair Trade coffee all about?'”
The difference between regular coffee and Fair Trade coffee is substantial. Not only is the price of regular coffee low, but it’s also plummeting. Its average price right now is $.50-$.60 per pound. Whereas Fair Trade coffee has a bottom price of $1.26. This is the point of Fair Trade coffee, to insure farmers receive a larger portion of the sales for the coffee beans they farm.
One popular coffee shop chain, Starbucks, does offer Fair Trade coffee, only because they have Fair Trade certification. Starbucks is the only company certified to sell Fair Trade in 21 countries, including the United States. However, McLean unearthed some interesting information, he stated, “Starbucks asked if they could come to the USFT Convergence and the USFT refused because Starbucks does not have much, as a percentage, fair trade coffee.”
It turns out that Starbucks is targeted by the USFT because they say they have Fair Trade coffee, but in fact, they don’t brew it on a daily basis, but only when a customer asks for it. Dunkin Donuts has fair trade coffee as well, but it is only used for the espresso.
McLean added, “If I could stress one thing…it is that people MUST ASK for the Fair Trade coffee and look for the Fair Trade Certified logo. We have to have conversation and education about this. It is important to those who make our coffee”. For more information on Fair Trade Coffee you can visit the following websites: oxfamamerica.org, citizenstrade.org, or www.usft.org.