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Most of the world’s coffee beans are produced by small-scale farmers in developing countries. Because they have little bargaining power in an industry dominated by a few large and powerful international coffee companies, they are forced to put up with low and unstable prices for their beans.
During the past decade coffee farmers have faced a crisis. Prices fell to a 30-year low with as little as 3 cents from a $3 cup of coffee reaching the farmers who grew the beans. This affected 25 million small-scale farmers and their families, and resulted in poor nutrition and children being taken out of school.
Buying Fairtrade coffee ensures farmers get a fair deal. It’s a way that you can take action every day to make a real difference to people’s lives.
World coffee prices have improved recently which has provided some relief for farmers and coffee workers. But the dynamics of the coffee market have not shifted in ways that guarantee long-term stability for those at the bottom of the supply chain.
Buying Fairtrade coffee is a way to overcome these problems and guarantee that everyone in the supply chain gets their fair share.
Successes
- Australia's growth in Fairtrade products such as coffee is ranked the fastest in the world with sales up from $150,000 in 2003 to more than $6.5 million in 2006 and still increasing at more than 50 perccent per annum
- A large number of places now stock Fairtrade options – to find your local supplier see our stockists list
- Our Fairtrade coffee supermarket campaign has had some major wins. Coles, IGA and Ritchie supermarkets all now stock Fairtrade coffee and tea. Our supporters sent more than 1,000 letters and emails to encourage Woolworths/Safeway to stock Fairtrade coffee. This action encouraged the supermarket chain to change its policy and it now stocks Fairtrade coffee
- A number of Australian companies, big and small, now provide Fairtrade products in their workplaces
Find out more
Not sure what Fairtrade means? Read our Fairtrade FAQ