Coffee

Coffee is one of the industries we are focusing on while we are here in Costa Rica. Due to the topics are are studying it is important to discuss Fair Trade Coffee.
 Fair Trade assures consumers that the coffee they drink was in fact purchased under fair conditions. There is certain criteria involved to become Fair Trade certified. "Fair Trade for coffee farmers mean community development, health education, and environmental stewardship" (Global Exchange). Some believe we need Fair Trade more than ever right now due to the world market prices being so low causing farmers problems with maintaining both their land and families. This price fall in the coffee market has also led farmers to bankruptcy. To protect the farmers and their families restructuring of the coffee industry needs to happen. This is again where Fair Trade comes into play. It corrects the markets imbalances by having a guaranteed minimum price for small farmers harvest and encouraging organic and sustainable practices (some of our main focuses). 

Costa Rica was the first country in Central America to register coffee exports in 1840. It currently accounts for 11% of export revenues and employs 5% of the nation's labor force. Costa Rica is responsible for 2.6% of the world's production of coffee. There are currently 72,942 coffee growers in Costa Rica. Working with the Fair Trade market has positively impacted the environment in may ways. For instance, working with the Fair Trade market has impacted social development. I am interested in learning more about the personal experiences these industries have had as we visit more coffee plantations.