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Buying Fair Trade Coffee
Pouring a morning cup of coffee goes beyond the quick fix of a liquid wake-up. It’s now a reflection of a coffee drinker’s values. For coffee-drinkers this means that there is now a wide assortment to choose from. Knowing which one is the ethical and certified brand and where to buy coffee is a lesson in the coffee commodity chain.
Basic rule of thumb: If nothing else try to buy organic coffee since it is less harmful to farmers (unregulated pesticide handling can do damage to farmers and their families) and the environment. If you can find a Fair Trade label on the coffee, that is the best choice (see options below); if you can find some form of “Fairly Traded” label that is good as well. [In fact it is now getting more complex and there shortly will be further clarification of the various labeling mechanisms. Until then simply follow this rule of thumb].
Examples: The following Stores and Brands are provided to help give a sense of what is available (and is not an endorsement of any specific brand). They are by no means all of the stores and brands available and the prices given are from the British Columbia area. Price can be around $12/lb.
Costco Fair-Trade Brands
Kirkland Expresso by Star Bucks $13.49 for 907 grams of beans and it will grind to approximately 1 Kg.of Coffee
Kirkland KS House Blend by Star Bucks $12.99 for 907 grams of beans will grind to approximately 1 Kg. of Coffee.
Ethical Bean $16.99 for 908 grams of beans will grind to approximately 1 Kg. of coffee.
Saltspring West Coast Blend $16.99 for 908 grams of beans that grind to approximately 1 Kg. of coffee.
The Average Grocery Store
These brands are $16.49 for 454 grams of beans:
- Kicking Horse, Hoodoo, Jo, Peruvian, Grizzly Claw, Three Sister, Mexican, Cliff Hanger, 454 Horse Power
Ethical Bean brands all $12.99 for 340 grams of beans:
Rocket Fuel, Lush, Bold, Classic, Expresso, Decaf
Fair-Trade Coffee On-line (links open in new window)
Bulk specialty “Fairly traded coffee” (minimum 10 lbs ($9.50/lb.): www.levelground.com
