Fair Trade or Fairly Traded? Fair Economy Promoters Share Views With Onegreenglobe.com Community
FEATURE
FAIR TRADE
As consumers, we don’t always think about the impact of our purchasing power. How many times have you actually stopped to ask yourself, “Where was this craft, coffee, chocolate, or tea produced, and did the worker receive a fair wage for his or her work in the production process? That probably hasn’t happened too often. After all, we live in a consumer society conditioned with not just an individual, but a collective consumptive mentality. That those products represent some of our largest imports from under-developed nations whose cost of living increases against a backdrop of stagnant wages, makes this a topic well worth consideration.
Not many of us have the phrase “Global Equity” etched across the top of our weekly shopping lists – although that may not be such a bad idea. Conditioned to believe that we need the next best thing and in ever increasing quantities, we’ve moved through much of our lives down a consistent though generally thoughtless path of frenetic purchasing activity.
Fair Trade is an organized endeavor to correct that course. It serves to help marginalized workers and small scale producers to attain economic self-sufficiency and stability toward an increased standard of living. Fair Trade promotes the practice of fair pricing and ethical consumer consumption through international labor standards, environmentalism, education, and the development of social policies around labeled and unlabeled Fair Trade products.
Contemporary economics traditionally driven by consumerism has been focused primarily on the relationship between product quality and price. Fair Trade seeks to create an equitable exchange and so has developed a labeling and certification process as a means to further protect workers and producers, while assisting consumers in their conscientious shopping activities.
The Fair Trade Debate: Fair Trade Versus Fairly Traded
There are two major camps of debate surrounding the Fair Trade issue: one that sees Fair Trade as an unnecessary subsidy that impedes economic growth; and one that sees organized Fair Trade as paying lip service – that Fair Trade is not enough and somewhat falling short of a thorough challenge to the current trading system.
Amidst it all is the promising hope of change. With the advent of (CSR) Corporate Social Responsibility at the big business level pushing for responsible action, to public education and the quiet conscious efforts of smaller businesses and organizations who have long known and understood the importance of economic equality – Fair Trade has moved from a remote public consideration to a genuine model of moral socio-economic behavior.
One company that plays a strong role towards effecting this type of change is Camano Island Coffee Roasting Company based in Camano, Washington.
Whether you’re a coffee aficionado, a tea drinker, or neither, Camano Island Coffee Roasting Company serves as an excellent example of a company that exemplifies the true meaning of Fairly Traded products.
Camano Island Coffee Roasting Company http://www.camanoislandcoffee.com
Jeff Ericson, founder and co-owner of Camano Island Coffee delivers more than great tasting organically grown coffee products.
He is not just another well seasoned businessman singularly concerned with the bottom line either — Jeff understands the true long-term value of equitable trade, and with proper balance… how to successfully join Fair Trade principles with strong market economy business practices to the benefit of all.
He believes that Fair Trade is not enough:
“We not only must make sure that a fair price is paid for the coffee – we also need to make sure that the farmers own the land that they work on. We need to make sure the children are getting basic health services and learning to read and write – so we do not repeat this process again in the next generation. We need to make sure the people are not totally dependent on just one crop (like coffee) – but that they have other ways to make money. We need to make sure that the village we work with has learned to work together as a team and can create streamlined approaches to business challenges of a rural area and that they have clean water to drink.”
THEN- we can pay a fair price for their coffee while requiring the coffee is organic and shade grown.
The challenge with a bureaucracy is that they tend to “lower the bar” in order to get everyone (even the big guns) into the pack.
We feel sustainability is a commitment – not a marketing term. If you do anything less then 100% in your purchasing decisions of coffee – then we feel you should not call yourself “fairly traded”.
We use the term “fairly traded” because we do not feel it is our role to promote a bureaucracy but to promote a practice of responsible consumerism.
Jeff has built his organization based on principles of quality, equality and service, not simply a series of campaigns to remain favored in the public eye. When you look into the community at large, you find both a man and a company that lead and inspire. They provide exceptional organic coffee products that are produced with the utmost regard for sustainability. It is a system that is vigorously enforced, providing fair-trade wage and opportunity to the coffee farmers who work so hard to maintain that delicate balance of health and prosperity.
What makes this coffee so special? Camano Island Coffee beans are 100% organic, shade-grown which preserves the native plants, and fairly traded using the top 1% of the available coffee market. The company aims to develop “Prosumers”, or customers who are conscious of the impact their dollars have on coffee spending.
To help customers enjoy these benefits, Camano Island Coffee offers, “The Coffee Lover’s Club”. the Coffee Lover’s Club is a great program that provides two pounds of coffee each month (your choice) for just $24.90, plus you get a 1/2 pound share-bag of their coffee of the month – delivered straight to your door at no extra cost!
“I like it when people share our vision, but if they don’t, we still want them to buy if they want the best coffee in the world.”
A strong part of the philanthropic vision is realized through its mission-based business model. The company participates in two key charity programs:
Coffee Kids: Grounds For Hope – an international organization established to improve the quality of life for coffee-farming families; and Agros International – an organization committed to breaking the cycle of poverty for families in Central America and Mexico by enabling landless communities to achieve land ownership and economic stability.
Camano Island Coffee Roasters donates $1 of ever Coffee Lover’s Club program purchase to one of these two key organizations, by customer choice.
For more information on Camano Island Coffee Roasters, or to join the company in its mission to promote strong sustainable business models, with strong sustainable values visit: www.camanoislandcoffee.com
About the Author
Marie Gunter, is the Co-Founder of One Green Globe (http://www.onegreenglobe.com), a leading online community for conscientious individuals, businesses and groups promoting sustainable and healthful living. Marie is an experienced holistic healthcare practitioner, and seasoned promoter of innovative technololgies, working in both the corporate and non-profit sectors and across various industries. She is a life-long proponent of holistic systems and sustainability. Marie provides independent consulting, business development and public speaking services throughout the U.S. Contact: 206-905-9254 for details.
For more information on One Green Globe check out http://www.onegreenglobe.com
Get healthful living updates from our eNewsletter, The Green Page eNews! ,strong>SUBSCRIBE: http://onegreenglobe.com/news/2007/09/
One Green Globe and OneGreenGlobe.com © 2006 All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprints acceptable ONLY if the entire article remains the same, including this author resource box! All links must remain active, give author name credit.
Camano Island Coffee Roasters Roasting Tour
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Camano Island Coffee Organic Varietal Supremo Espresso Blend Whole Bean 5 lb Bag $59.99 |
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Camano Island Coffee Organic Shade-grown Sumatra Dark Roast Whole Bean 5 lb Bag $59.99 |
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Camano Island Coffee Guatemala, Mediun, Ground 5 Pound $40.74 |
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Camano Island Coffee Organic Papua New Guinea Medium Roast Whole Bean 5 lb Bag $59.99 |
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Camano Island Coffee Organic Shade-grown Honduras Dark Roast Whole Bean 5 lb Bag $59.99 |
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Camano Island Coffee Specialty Reserve Premium Gift Box $74.99 |
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Camano Island Coffee Roasters Ultimate Espresso Gift Pk $89.99 |
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Camano Island Coffee, Peru, Dark Roast, Ground 5 Pound $40.74 |
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Camano Island Coffee, Ethiopian Sopremo, Ground 5 Pound $40.74 |
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Camano Island Whole Bean Coffee, Supremo/Espresso Blend $11.99 |
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Camano Island Coffee Papua New Guinea Medium Roast $58.99 |
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Camano Island Coffee Roasters Honduras Dark Roast $58.99 |
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15- 1lb.Bags Camano Island Whole Bean Organic Coffee Guatemala,Brazil,Honduras + $129.99 |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Peru, Dark Roast, Whole Bean, 5-Pound Bag $54.02 |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Papua New Guinea, Medium Roast, Ground, 5- $63.85 |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Sumatra, Medium Roast, Ground, 80-Ounce Ba $54.02 |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Sumatra, Dark Roast, Ground, 5-Pound Bag $62.71 |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Sumatra, Dark Roast, Whole Bean, 5-Pound B $51.71 |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Guatemala, Light Roast, Whole Bean, 16-Oun $42.06 |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Sumatra, Dark Roast, Ground, 16-Ounce Bags $42.06 |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Brazil, Dark Roast, Whole Bean, 5-Pound Ba $54.02 |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Honduras, Dark Roast, Ground, 16-Ounce Bag $42.06 |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Brazil, Medium Roast, Ground, 16-Ounce Bag $42.06 |
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Camano Island Roasters Honduras Dark Roast Coffee 5 lbs $61.99 |
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Camano Island Roasters Papua New Guinea Coffee – 5 lbs. $61.99 |
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Camano Island Roasters Sumatra Dark Roast Coffee 5 lbs. $61.99 |
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Camano Island Roasters Varietal Supremo Espresso Coffee $61.99 |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Medium Roast $29.99 |
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Camano Island Organic Whole Bean Coffee, Brazil $11.99 |
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Camano Island Organic Whole Bean Coffee, Sumatra $11.99 |
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Camano Island Organic Gound Coffee, Sumatra $11.99 |
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Camano Island Organic Gound Coffee, Guatemala $11.99 |
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Camano Island Organic Whole Bean Coffee, Sumatra $11.99 |
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Camano Island Organic Coffee Papua New Guinea $11.99 |
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Camano Island Organic Whole Bean Coffee, Guatemala $11.99 |
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Camano Island Organic Gound Coffee, Sumatra $11.99 |
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Camano Island Organic Gound Coffee, Papua New Guinea $11.99 |
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Camano Island Organic Gound Coffee, Brazil $11.99 |
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Camano Island Coffee Roasters Gourmet Drink Gift Box $55.49 |
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Camano Coffee Mill We’ve always wanted the best cup of coffee we can get. Fresh roasted, whole bean, shade-grown, certified organic, fairly traded; can it get any better? It can by hand grinding those carefully prepared coffee beans with a one of a kind tool that is designed to improve the quality of your cup. When you enjoy your coffee so much you should enjoy making it as well. The Camano Coffee Mill is unique. A … |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Sumatra, Dark Roast, Whole Bean, 5-Pound Bag $43.00 Our organic Sumatra is among the world’s finest coffees displaying rich flavor, extraordinary full body and distinctively vibrant, low-key acidity. Rich and complex, our Sumatra is fruity, sweet and full bodied. The nutty undertones serve to accentuate the deep, rich flavor of this Indonesian coffee. This coffee is a perfect treat, day or night but makes an exceptionally delicious dessert coffee…. |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Sumatra, Dark Roast, Ground, 5-Pound Bag $59.95 Our organic Sumatra is among the world’s finest coffees displaying rich flavor, extraordinary full body and distinctively vibrant, low-key acidity. Rich and complex, our Sumatra is fruity, sweet and full bodied. The nutty undertones serve to accentuate the deep, rich flavor of this Indonesian coffee. This coffee is a perfect treat, day or night but makes an exceptionally delicious dessert coffee…. |
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Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Brazil, Dark Roast, Whole Bean, 5-Pound Bag $51.00 Our Brazil is perhaps one of our most complex coffees. Its well defined caramel tones coupled with a finishing hint of spice give it a unique and addictive flavor. Rounding out the undertones of the coffee are nutty hints. Brazilian weather conditions are very unique and produce excellent Arabica naturals…. |
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International Paper Brand 20oz Hot Cups – With Boxes for Marking Drink Information $59.00 Brand new Image cups (with small web address) are perfect for any use weather for your business or for home. These 20oz Paper cups are made for hot beverages (like your morning coffee) but work great for cold drinks as well. Each cup has the website “gobrevita.com” printed on the bottom along with a column of white boxes for marking your drink type – perfect for any espresso business!… |
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Camano Island $18.98 Camano Island is one of dozens of islands in Puget Sound once covered with immense stands of Douglas fir and Western red cedar. Beginning in 1858, and while the Civil War raged half a continent away, a large mill operated at the northern end of the island where the tall ships anchored to take away spars, pilings, and lumber for export abroad. The mill closed in 1891, and small logging companies took the rest of the big trees over the years. Once a bridge was built in 1909, Camano became the "island you can drive to" for a fishing trip, hunting outing, or a vacation cabin within a few hours of Seattle. In the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, Camano has become home to thousands of newcomers who enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountain Ranges from Mount Baker to Mount Rainier. |
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6br – Camano Beach House: Right on Water with Room for E $250 Located on Camano Island's most beautiful beach, this newly updated waterfront cabin will remind you just how precious your getaways are. This cabin is cozy enough for your winter weekend escape and large enough for your family reunion. We are just… |
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Political Map of Camano, WA $19.99 Political Map of Camano, WA – Premium Poster |
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Keurig® Island Coconut Coffee $15.99 A quick trip to paradise with this 18 ct. Island Coconut coffee. A tropical treat of sweet, creamy coconut. For use with the Keurig Coffee Maker. |
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Kona Coffee, Island Of Hawaii, Hawaii $29.99 Douglas Peebles Kona Coffee, Island Of Hawaii, Hawaii – Photographic Print |
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Crown Coffee Shop, Providence, Rhode Island $19.99 Crown Coffee Shop, Providence, Rhode Island – Art Print |
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Coffee Candy Chews Bag 13.2 Ounces (376 Grams) $9.95 Between cups of brewed gourmet coffee, you can enjoy the essence of our premium beans with our coffee candy chews. While the majority of coffee candies are artificially flavored, we use only the |
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Dark Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans Bag 6 Ounces (170 Grams) $9.95 Both coffee and cacao beans have a long history in Costa Rica. Hundreds of years ago cacao beans were first used as currency by indigenous tribes. Before the introduction of coffee in the early 1700s, |
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Dark Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans Canister 7 Ounces (200 Grams) $9.95 Both coffee and cacao beans have a long history in Costa Rica. Hundreds of years ago cacao beans were first used as currency by indigenous tribes. Before the introduction of coffee in the early 1700s, |
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French Coffee Press 6 Cup French Press Chrome $24.99 Like many of the best inventions, the French Coffee Press seems to have resulted from an accident. Legend has it that around the mid 1800s, the serendipitous incident happened on a hillside when |
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French Coffee Press 6 Cup French Press Gold $28.99 Like many of the best inventions, the French Coffee Press seems to have resulted from an accident. Legend has it that around the mid 1800s, the serendipitous incident happened on a hillside when |
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French Coffee Press 3 Cup French Press Gold $19.99 Like many of the best inventions, the French Coffee Press seems to have resulted from an accident. Legend has it that around the mid 1800s, the serendipitous incident happened on a hillside when |
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French Coffee Press 3 Cup French Press Chrome $16.99 Like many of the best inventions, the French Coffee Press seems to have resulted from an accident. Legend has it that around the mid 1800s, the serendipitous incident happened on a hillside when |
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Veranda Serving Island Coffee $1285 UWharrie Veranda Serving Island Beautiful Comfort Rustically styled UWharrie furniture is crafted from hand selected pressure treated solid pine lumber, painted and lightly distressed for a beautiful, weathered antique look. They require no additional protection from the elements. Exposure to weather will enhance their rustic appearance, but will not damage them. Weight: 15 lbs. Dimensions: 48W x 24.75D x 39H Please allow up to 3-4 weeks for delivery Color Chart About Uwharrie The Original Uwharrie Chair was created to offer not only all-weather seating, but classically styled, comfortably designed outdoor accents. With their rugged good looks and solid construction, the chairs and their companion pieces provide a balance of aesthetic charm and lifestyle integrity. It is insect and rot resistant, it may be stained or painted (or left natural), and it’s milled from a renewable resource: plantation grown southern pine. Uwharrie Chair Company uses heavy, one inch thick premium grade lumber kiln dried after it has been treated. Paints used to coat Uwharrie Chair products are latex enamel. |
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Aloha Island Hawaiian Coffee Sampler $33.95 This is a wonderful coffee sampler that is sure to please any coffee lover! (Ground Coffee for convenience). We hand select and handcraft our famous Hawaiian Tropical Blends, and micro roast immediately before we package each of these wonderful selections. Nestled in this keepsake basket are five, 2 ounce GROUND selections of our wonderful Hawaiian Tropical blend coffees; 1 Dark Roast, 1 Espresso Roast, 2 Medium Roasts, and 1 Breakfast Blend. Each roast selection is smooth, rich, and fu |
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