There is a type of coffee, called Fair Trade coffee, that is produced a little differently than other types of coffee. By “produced differently”, we do not mean that the beans used are inferior, or that the coffee produced will be different. The purpose of Fair Trade coffee is to protect coffee workers, and any coffee grower or producer in this organization agrees to make sure that the people who harvest and sort coffee products are treated fairly.
In the United States, we consume a great deal of coffee. Most people can’t imagine starting their day or finishing a meal without a cup of coffee. But we never give a thought to how coffee beans are produced, harvested and shipped. We just drink it and take all of that for granted. But maybe we should think about fair treatment for coffee workers.
In many areas of the world, coffee workers are treated unfairly. Large plantations hire laborers at paltry wages and then expect them to work long, backbreaking hours in the sun. Plantations that are part of Fair Trade Coffee have agreed to respect coffee workers’ rights. They agree to meet certain minimum standards for working conditions and worker...