My visit to a non-certified coffee farm left me doubting the fair trade hype

I went to a small farm in Colombia last spring, and it really made me think. A lot of people in coffee circles say you must always buy fair trade to do right by farmers. But this farm, while not certified, treated their workers fairly and used sustainable methods. The owner told me the fees and rules for fair trade were too much for their size, so they sold direct to a local roaster instead. Now I feel stuck, because I want to support ethical practices, but this farm seemed good without the label. It's not black and white, and I think we should judge each case instead of just looking for a sticker. Maybe sometimes the best coffee comes from places that don't fit the mold. What do you all think?

4 comments

4 Comments

wyattp451mo ago

Ever think that farm is fair trade without the label?

jana6721mo ago

Without certification, how do we verify, @wyattp45?

chen.olivia1mo ago

Honestly, I read this article about a small coffee farm that couldn't afford the fair trade fees. They paid their workers way above average and did everything right, but no official stamp. So how do you know? You'd have to go there yourself or trust some blogger's shaky phone video. It just becomes a "he said, she said" thing.

ivan_harris1mo ago

Ha! Sure wyattp45, and my neighbor's backyard lemonade stand is basically a non-profit. It's all about trust, right? Like that coffee farm you heard about from a guy who knows a guy. Or the "totally ethical" sweatshop because the owner smiles sometimes. Without the label, it's just a story. Trust me bro, it's fine.