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New Jersey State House poised to offer Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate
Thanks to the hard work of Fair Trade activists in New Jersey, like the South Jersey Fair Trade Alliance, Assembly Resolution (AR) 178 was introduced on May 15, 2006 in the New Jersey Assembly. AR 178 would make fair trade certified coffee, tea, and chocolate available in the NJ State House Complex. Click here to view the bill.
The South Jersey Fair Trade Alliance is working to educate and activate SJ residents and business owners about the importance of Fair Trade. AR 178 is an important step in promoting Fair Trade products in New Jersey.
Here's How Organic Consumers
Can Help Pass this Important Fair Trade Resolution
AR 178 was introduced on May 15, 2006. to be voted on by the New Jersey State Legislature, it first needs to be posted and approved in the State Government Committee. Send a letter to the New Jersey Assembly State Government Committee and urge them to post AR 178.
Take action and send a letter to the NJ State Government Committee here.
Background Info
About Fair Trade Coffee
Many coffee farmers receive prices for their harvest that can be less than the costs of production, forcing them into a cycle of poverty and debt. They are often forced to sell to middlemen who pay them half the market price, generally between 30-50 per pound.
Fair trade coffee sells for a minimum of $1.26 per pound.
This money goes directly to coffee farmers, not to predatory middlemen.
Fair Trade farmers are also insured access to credit at the beginning of the harvest season so they can support themselves during the "lean months" between harvests.
A typical Fair Trade farmer cultivates less than 3 hectares (7 acres) of coffee and harvests 1,000-3,000 pounds of unroasted coffee a year
More than 500,000 farmers around the world produce and sell more than 170 million pounds of coffee each year through the Fair Trade network. Over 100 fair trade coffee brands are sold worldwide in approximately 35,000 retail outlets (7,000 in the US).
Take action and send a letter to State Committee Chair Mims Hacket here.
About 85% of Fair Trade Certified coffee is shade grown and organic as small farmers have never had the money to purchase chemicals.
The first fair trade coffee label was started in 1998 in Holland under the name Max Havelaar and has since been followed by many others. In 1997, Fair Trade labelers formed an international umbrella group called Fair Trade Labeling Organizations (FLO) International, which defines the criteria for each product certified under the Fair Trade system, including coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, honey, bananas and orange juice.
There are now over 50 importers and roasters in the US the largest being Equal Exchange (www.equalexchange.com) who imported 1.6 million pounds of coffee last year.
... Unfortunately the supply of fair trade far outstrips the demand. Of the 170 million pounds of fair trade coffee produced globally only 35 million pounds are sold on the fair trade market. Coffee companies need to aggressively promote fair trade coffee.
Take action and send a letter to the State Government Committee here.