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Fair Trade Certified Coffee
Most people know about Fair Trade coffee. Fair Trade Certified coffee has been available in Canada since 1996. The following facts and figures help to give a quantitative picture of how Fair Trade works.
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roasted Sold (lbs) | 609,400 | 936,955 | 1,460,800 | 2,063,600 | 3,009,600 |
| Roasted Sold (M tons) | 277 | 425 | 664 | 938 | 1,368 |
- Coffees certified by TransFair Canada are available in thousands of stores and offices across the country, including many supermarkets.
- 95 coffee roasters and importers throughout Canada are licensed to sell Fair Trade Certified coffee bearing the Fair Trade Certified label.
- TransFair Canada is the only third-party certification agency for Fair Trade practices in Canada.
- TransFair Canada receives funding from CIDA, Churches, Unions, and NGO's. In 2002, roughly 54% of TransFair Canada's income came from license fees for the use of the label.
- TransFair Canada is the only Canadian affiliate of an international umbrella organization called FLO (Fair Trade Labeling Organizations) that registers and monitors producer organizations in the South to ensure that producers benefit from Fair Trade.
- Over 300 cooperatives in 23 countries, representing 550,000 small farmers and their families, sell Fair Trade Certified coffee.
- Fair Trade coffee cooperatives receive a minimum of $1.26 US per pound FOB for their coffee, and receive a premium if it is also certified organic. The world price is currently well below $0.60 US per pound.
- Fair Trade Certified coffee is grown on small, family-run farms. These farmers typically grow their coffee in the shade of a taller forest canopy. These farmers also tend to avoid the use of pesticides. In 1999, 28% of all Fair Trade Certified coffee was certified organic.
- Fair Trade certified coffee has been available in Europe for 20 years. In Europe over 130 brands of Fair Trade coffee are available in over 35,000 supermarkets.
For more information on Fair Trade certified coffee please visit the FairTrade products (Coffee) and Where To Buy sections of our site
