Posted on 10/20/2004 1:03:19 PM PDT by SmithL
GUILDERLAND, N.Y. -- Mark Van Wormer is a fair trade coffee guy.
He drinks it at home. He persuaded the private school where he teaches to make the switch. And he always requests a fair trade blend at Starbucks.
"I was very attracted to the notion of buying a product that could actually put a little bit more money in the pockets of the smaller farmers," said Van Wormer, an Albany area resident.
Socially conscious consumers like Van Wormer have made fair trade brews a rapidly growing niche of the coffee market. The beans can now be found on supermarket shelves next to the Folgers and in the espresso at Dunkin' Donuts.
The term "fair trade" describes organized efforts to give small growers in other countries -- often in Central and South America -- a price for their products that gives them a decent living. Not-for-profit organizations, like TransFair USA in this country, certify which products can carry a fair trade label.
The growth in sales of fair trade coffee has been so strong that fair traders are increasing their marketing efforts beyond coffee. Get ready for a fair trade push on sugar, chocolate, fruit juice, bananas and more.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I always love it when these smarmy libs claim think they're doing good for humanity, when they're simply suffering and they are too stupid to realize it.
I have no problem with this, it's when Mr. Wormer, as he inevitably will, tries to get a law passed forcing me to buy it that I will have a problem.
Real people drink real coffee. Not that flavored candy-ass faggy drink stuff.
Espresso, cappucino, ok, but all the hazelnut & other kool-aid flavored stuff is for pusses.
Take your fair-trade coffee beans & snort them, looser, I like my maxwell house regular stuff just the way my wife makes it!
Fair trade sugar!!!Good luck!!!
screw the farmers, they should be growing drugs instead.
Seriously, I don't buy this crap, I like my coffee cheap and strong!
Good deal, the other growers will have to lower their prices to lure the PC consumers away from the "fair brand" and my coffee will be even cheaper.
Right.
Espresso, cappucino, ok, but all the hazelnut & other kool-aid flavored stuff is for pusses.
Yep to the latter; Espresso made properly is Nectar of the Gods.
Take your fair-trade coffee beans & snort them, looser, I like my maxwell house regular stuff just the way my wife makes it!
Maxwell House? You were doing ok up to this point. Maxwell House????? Old, poor quality, canned coffee? Sheesh. Retch.
Mash here.
Thanks, but no. I am not much of an expirementer. I stick to my Marlboro's, Budweiser, Maxwell house. That's 3 of my 4 food groups, the donuts I am not so fussy about.
Ok, to each their own, but I assume you won't be insulted if I bring my own stuff to eat and drink when I visit?
Fair enough. Welcome any time!
I drink instant Maxwell House - decaf. So there.
The other growers' prices already ARE lower. This is what these pseudo-socialistic ding-dongs think is so "unfair." None of them have the slightest inkling of supply and demand. At their "fair" price there are more sellers than buyers. So who gets to decide which suppliers receive the "fair" price and which are not allowed to sell for less and therefore must feed their unsold coffee beans to their families instead of meat and rice? Some unelected "fair-trade" commisar somewhere? No thanks!
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