wrote:
>
> In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
>
> > > But the wanky coffee yields a better price to the farmer than Fairtrade.
>
> > But it's priced so that I can't afford to buy it.
>
> If you buy Fairtrade coffee, you pay at least as much, and likely more,
> than non- Fairtrade coffees which yield more for the farmers.


That's probably not true. Few farmers own coffee plantations. At least
with Fairtrade, the people who grow the coffee have a chance to own the
land. If that's not possible, they get a larger share of the profit.

I am not
> opposed to Fairtrade. Some other people are, because it does not pay the
> farmers as much as they would get by improving quality. Generally, it is
> used as a marketing thing. Dunkin Donuts, for example, is selling
> Fairtrade coffee. By doing so, they pay less per pound than they would if
> they were to buy true specialty coffee, and give the impression that they
> are helping farmers.

But Dunking Donuts and similar places have never ever had
top-of-the-line specialty coffee. They never will sell such coffee, as
the profit margin to them would be lower. When people want truly
superior coffee they don't go to either Dunkin Donuts or to Starbuck's.
So it makes sense for those outlets to sell Fairtrade coffee. Everyone
benefits.



Indeed, they are helping farmers, and the coffee
> they get is better than average. but alternatives exist which help the
> farmers more, and provide better coffee (and a better value) to consumers.

You haven't yet provided one instance of this.

>
> If helping coffee farmers is something you feel strongly about, another
> excellent organization is CoffeeKids.
>
> But anytime you buy specialty coffee, Fairtrade or not, you help farmers,
> and anytime you buy supermarket-type canned coffee, you hurt farmers.

You haven't provided any instance that specialty coffee which is not
Fairtrade will help farmers.

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 17:05:43 -0600, Arri London >
wrote:

wrote:
>>
>> In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
>>
>> > > But the wanky coffee yields a better price to the farmer than
Fairtrade.
>>
>> > But it's priced so that I can't afford to buy it.
>>
>> If you buy Fairtrade coffee, you pay at least as much, and likely
more,
>> than non- Fairtrade coffees which yield more for the farmers.
>
>
>That's probably not true. Few farmers own coffee plantations. At
least
>with Fairtrade, the people who grow the coffee have a chance to own
the
>land. If that's not possible, they get a larger share of the profit.
>
>I am not
>> o
>
>You haven't provided any instance that specialty coffee which is not
>Fairtrade will help farmers.

Fair Trade is not applicable to Kona Coffee.

I am a farmer and we have the land lease to 5 acres. We grow Kona a
specialty coffee. When you buy from us, it goes directly to the
farmer. That is who we are.

aloha,
Thunder..





http://www.smithfarms.com
Farmers & Sellers of 100%
Kona Coffee & other Great Stuff

In rec.food.cooking, Smithfarms Pure Kona > wrote:

> I am a farmer and we have the land lease to 5 acres. We grow Kona a
> specialty coffee. When you buy from us, it goes directly to the
> farmer. That is who we are.

IMO, buying directly from the farmer is a Good Thing.


> http://www.smithfarms.com
> Farmers & Sellers of 100%
> Kona Coffee & other Great Stuff

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who

Smithfarms Pure Kona wrote:
>
> On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 17:05:43 -0600, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
> >>
> >> > > But the wanky coffee yields a better price to the farmer than
> Fairtrade.
> >>
> >> > But it's priced so that I can't afford to buy it.
> >>
> >> If you buy Fairtrade coffee, you pay at least as much, and likely
> more,
> >> than non- Fairtrade coffees which yield more for the farmers.
> >
> >
> >That's probably not true. Few farmers own coffee plantations. At
> least
> >with Fairtrade, the people who grow the coffee have a chance to own
> the
> >land. If that's not possible, they get a larger share of the profit.
> >
> >I am not
> >> o
> >
> >You haven't provided any instance that specialty coffee which is not
> >Fairtrade will help farmers.
>
> Fair Trade is not applicable to Kona Coffee.

It shouldn't be necessary in the US.
Not that much American agriculture is a model for labour fairness, but
at least there are laws whether or not they are being followed.

>
> I am a farmer and we have the land lease to 5 acres. We grow Kona a
> specialty coffee. When you buy from us, it goes directly to the
> farmer. That is who we are.
>
> aloha,
> Thunder..

If you are not abusing the system, then you have no need of the
Fairtrade trademark. But you are certainly in the minority.
>

In rec.food.cooking, Arri London > wrote:

> You haven't provided any instance that specialty coffee which is not
> Fairtrade will help farmers.

http://www.laminita.com/
http://www.businesswire.com/webbox/b.../213452051.htm

Hope you find these to be interesting. And as I've said repeatedly, I
have nothing against Fairtrade.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who

wrote:
>
> In rec.food.cooking, Arri London > wrote:
>
> > You haven't provided any instance that specialty coffee which is not
> > Fairtrade will help farmers.
>
> http://www.laminita.com/
> http://www.businesswire.com/webbox/b.../213452051.htm
>
> Hope you find these to be interesting. And as I've said repeatedly, I
> have nothing against Fairtrade.
>
>

Thank you, I know that; I just wanted some cites.