Fair Coffee Celebrates Fairtrade Fortnight, for People & The Planet.
Fair Coffee
Celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight 2020, For People & The Planet.
In 2020, we face a world where consumers call for greater measures of transparency and what matters is being kind, fair and supportive to communities around the world where all lives are of equal value and no person should live in poverty. This is why the Fairtrade movement matters, it’s about empowering communities to tackle poverty.
It’s a promise that Fair Coffee takes to heart and values and messages that we intend to spread! Your favourite coffee is more than just a cup – it’s at the heart of Fairtrade Fortnight.
The Fairtrade Fortnight is about discovering how to make a difference in our daily lives so that we can make trade fair for everyone. Behind your lattes and cappuccinos are people, farmers, workers and families that often live below the poverty line.
This fortnight is about creating awareness, highlighting the right information, and presenting reasons why choosing Fair Coffee is an important choice because your choice makes a positive impact on the livelihood of farming communities. In conjunction with Fairtrade, Fair Coffee is empowering change around the world by supporting farmer organisations.
How does it help so much?
Fair Coffee is empowering change around the world by supporting farmer organisations. During 2017-2019 Fair Coffee has contributed to the global premium impact with funds raised over $122.6 million so far across 32 countries – money which has gone directly to help raise those same people out of poverty
An increased number of producers are choosing to pay the Fairtrade Premium. A Fairtrade program provides a range of benefits to farmers and producers such as:
• Providing services for farmers such as HR and Administration.
• Investing in facilities and infrastructure.
• Building classrooms for ongoing education and development of crucial business skills.
In summary, the premium assists communities by assisting with funding for local economy growth. But let’s put that into perspective with a producer profile from the Oromia Cooperative.
Oromia Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Union (OCFCU)
The Oromia Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Union (OCFCU) is the largest Fairtrade coffee producer in Ethiopia and they have used the funds from the Fairtrade Premium Development Plan to construct a childhood care centre, two schools, health centres, a library, clean water line extensions and more!
When we choose to buy Fair Coffee, we are directly supporting the livelihoods of the farmers and their wider communities. In Ethiopia alone, more than 65,000 people have benefited from proceeds so far.
Highlands Organic Agriculture Cooperative (HOAC)
Another organisation that has benefited from aid is the Highlands Organic Agriculture Cooperative (HOAC) in Papua New Guinea. Being one of the oldest Fairtrade certified organisations in Papua New Guinea, the Highlands Organic Agriculture Cooperative (HOAC), have benefitted by having the means to purchase 1600 pulpers and 412 secateurs over the course of the last three years. This equipment has improved the lives of more than 20,000 people.
Not only has this brought about more job opportunities for them but has also assisted in modernising and training farmers and labourers, as well as providing farmers and their families with business management training, financial literacy workshops and, the biggest change of them all, advocating gender equality.
HOAC promotes women’s participation in every step of the decision-making process. In fact, because of this, the average of female representatives in Fairtrade businesses in Papua New Guinea has risen from 11.2% in 2017 to 18.9% in 2018. This also makes Fair Coffee a powerful vehicle for social change.
"For People & The Planet"
Small-scale farmers provide 70% of the world’s population with food, even more so with coffee. When we choose to buy Fairtrade products and Fair Coffee, we are playing a vital role in paying fair prices for farmers’ crops, giving them financial security and better livelihoods, as well as facilitating them to sustainably reinvest into their businesses. This ensures we’ll have sustainable coffee for years to come!
The Fairtrade label, after all, is the only ethical label with a Trader Standard, promoting fairer behaviours by traders and buyers.
Being transparent is an equally important aspect of business in a climate where consumers demand to know where and how our products are made.
Our goals for the future
The Fairtrade Premium has its own set of developmental goals in relation to how it is benefitting and helping farmers and communities around the world. They are:
No poverty – Fairtrade farmers and workers around the world have received over $680 million in support from 2015 to 2018 – supported by people choosing Fair Coffee.
Zero Hunger – fairer prices mean they have long-term food and water, security and the ability to pay their farm labourers decent wages.
Gender Equality – leading to a 26% increase in household revenue for women in Ghana over the last three years.
Decent Work & Economic Growth – Fairtrade standards prohibits practices that would otherwise be human rights violations.
Responsible Consumption & Production – Fairtrade raises the voices of small-scale farmers and workers at the global level, ensuring their needs are met and their rights protected.
Partnerships – The Fairtrade Premium has over 4000 businesses that are delivering real impact in over 2000 towns in over 30 countries.
Climate Change – 33% of greenhouse gases come from agriculture and Fairtrade farmers are working hard to reduce their emissions and become more resilient to extreme weather and crop disease.
Peace & Justice – Fairtrade is 50% owned and run by the farmers and workers themselves, making it democratic, as well as ethical.
How do I get involved?
Fair Coffee is actually closer to home than you may think, as in 2019, Oxfam Australia and their long-term roasting partner, the Bean Alliance Group, based in Melbourne, entered an agreement to continue production of Oxfam Fair Coffee and drinking chocolate products right here in Melbourne, Australia!
Money raised from fair coffee and drinking chocolate sales flow back to Oxfam Australia to be allocated to the programs we’ve discussed and more – together, this allows us to defeat poverty and improve the lives of farmers around the world. You’ve probably seen the Fairtrade or Fair Coffee label on some of our favourite blends (World Blend and Africa Blend) in your local Coles, Woolies and independent stores.
We hope that you will join our cause for the people and for the planet and choose Fair Coffee to support this amazing charity work. To hear more about the stories of the people behind your favourite coffees, sign up to the mailing list below and check out our store to see our growing range of options for coffee and drinking chocolates. Just remember – it’s more than just a cup.
It’s more than just a cup.
We hope that you will join our cause for the people and for the planet and choose Fair Coffee to support this amazing charity work. To hear more about the stories of the people behind your favourite coffees, sign up to the mailing list below and check out our store to see our growing range of options for coffee and drinking chocolates.