Coffee... "fair trade"

So I just found out about “fair trade” coffee movement, from a fellow USC student Blog. The fair trade movement (as I understand) that for coffee (or any commodity) to be certified “fair trade” it must meet a set price at sale that goes to the grower. When coffee (American) companies buy by the pound and the going rate is $.70 on the pound, and for these farmers what they need to make to not get “locked” into a debt cycle is $1.70. Makes we wonder, as this girl challenged go into your local Starbucks (if you buy coffee there) and say: “Could I get a cup of fair trade coffee?”

I wrote a long email to her, and she talked back with a great sense of humor.

Her web site is: http://greenlagirl.com/