Coffee and the Fair Trade Movement

Introduction Canadians drink 40 million cups of coffee a day Two-thirds of that coffee is not bought in coffee chains, but consumed at home

After oil, Coffee is the second most highly traded commodity in the world. It is grown primarily in the “South” and typically processed in the “North”, directly employing over 20 million people worldwide – many of them living in the “South”. Farmers do not always get paid a fair amount Many conventional coffee farming families cannot afford to send their children to school Instead, they help in the fields, creating an endless cycle of poverty

Fair Trade: What Is It? Fair trade is a movement to ensure that farmers and producers of goods like coffee, bananas, clothing, etc. are paid a fair wage for their work. It has come about as a means of being a thoughtful and responsible consumer. It occurs when people recognize that through their purchasing power they can impact global trade and the lives of others on other countries.

Coffee Comes Alive

Focus Questions 1.What are the arguments for and against Fair trade? 2.What are some of the issues faced by coffee farmers and their families? 3.In the video shown, both children and adults in the community are farmers. How do you think Fair Trade purchasing might impact the development of these communities? 4.If you were a 17-year-old Mexican, how would life on a Fair Trade farm differ from life on a conventional coffee bean farm?