In honor of October being Fair Trade Month, I have been considering some of the reasons that Stone Creek purchases and uses Fair Trade coffee.  The first and most obvious reason is that the Fair Trade program offers us a chance to purchase our coffee directly from the farmers and their cooperatives, ensuring us that the transaction benefits the producers rather than any middlemen.  The second reason that Stone Creek values Fair Trade is corollary to the first:  Fair Trade guarantees its producers a fair, minimum price for their coffee, and offers a premium price for coffee that is certified organic.  Another reason that we purchase Fair Trade coffee is because under the rules of the Fair Trade Association, certified farms must offer their employees safe working conditions and a living wage above the industry standard.  Moreover, Fair Trade farms are not allowed to use harmful pesticides or dangerous agrochemicals in the production of their coffees.  This stipulation protects not only the harvesters and growers, but it also protects the land and environment in which the coffee is grown, and offers our customers a little more peace of mind.  Stone Creek currently purchases Fair Trade coffees from three different Coops:  Oromia in Ethiopia, Cesmach in Mexico, and PPKGO in Sumatra.  This fall we will be sourcing a Peruvian Fair Trade cooperative for our Organic Peruvian, which should be arriving in stores in early November.  More information on these Coops can be found on the Fair Trade website at www.transfairusa.org, under the Producer Profiles link. 

-Stephen Bybee
 Roaster, Purchaser
 Stone Creek Coffee Roasters