Coffee and congregations

The only question you have to ask yourself is "Is it fair?" ... If it's not, then you have to ask yourself, "Is there anything I can do about it?" If the answer is yes, then you better do it. Otherwise what's the sense of having a conscience?
From "Brewing Justice: Churches apply the Bible to the Bean" by Darren Foster - Park Slope UMC in Brooklyn

As incredible as it may seem, coffee is the second most heavily traded commodity in the world after oil. And although the U.S. represents only about one-twentieth of the world's population, we drink at least one-fifth of the world's coffee. Our purchasing decisions can have an impact!

Find out more from this article from the Washington Post called "Pursuing Justice One Cup at a Time: Congregations Embrace Fair-Trade Coffee, Goods." 

United Methodist Church Approves Fair Trade Resolution

On May 4, 2004, the United Methodist General Conference in Pittsburgh approved a resolution recognizing the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Coffee Project and urging "all agencies of the church, local congregations and their affiliated organizations that use coffee to purchase coffee for corporate and personal use through the fair trade partner, Equal Exchange or through another fair trade organization."

Launched in the Summer of 2002, the UMCOR Coffee Project has involved over 850 United Methodist congregations, organizations, and schools.

Are you serving JUSTICE with your coffee? 
These churches are!

Nationally 5,187 congregations bought 212 tons of coffee, tea and cocoa from Equal Exchange in 2003 compared with the 2,895 congregations that purchased 124 tons in 2002. As of December 2003, 630 United Methodist Churches were involved in the UMCOR Coffee Project, purchasing over 10,000 pounds of fairly traded coffee through the project.

The following churches in the North Central New York Conference of the UMC are participating in this justice mission, creating better lives for farmers and their families and providing winter homes for our own migratory birds:

Contact me (email address is on the home page) if your NCNY church is using Justice Coffee, and we'll add your name to the list.

Some practical suggestions for your church

Making the connections: 
It's more than just a cup of coffee

"Justice Coffee" is coffee that is 

By buying and serving "Justice Coffee," this common symbol of fellowship can also become a way of caring for coffee farmers in Central America, for our migratory birds, as well as for the earth. You'll be serving a cup of justice for three worthy causes, not just one! This is an important action to take, and because coffee plays a fairly prominent role in a congregation's life, it offers opportunities to learn about both environmental and justice issues.

Here's information about the impact of your purchase of every 100 pounds of coffee.

Coffee and farmers

Isidra Pacheo Aparicio is part of CEPCO, a network of coffee producers in Oaxaca, Mexico. Internationally-recognized fair trade standards require paying a fair price to farmers, including a guaranteed minimum when market prices are low; working directly with certified, democratically-run farming cooperatives; and encouraging ecologically sustainable farming practices. A UMNS photo Courtesy of CEPCO.

By serving Fair Trade coffee at your place of worship, you can share fellowship with our neighbors in coffee-growing countries, making a difference in their lives while enjoying a delicious cup of coffee. Through the program, farmers earn a fair price for their products, receive affordable credit, and gain a long-term trading partner that they can trust. By pooling their resources in democratic cooperatives, farmers are able to invest in training, health care, and agricultural improvements in their communities. Every cup you serve helps these farmers as they build better lives for themselves and their families. 
                                         (From Equal Exchange website)

A worker dries coffee beans in the sun in Santo Domingo, Mexico. Coffee is the most heavily traded commodity after oil, yet most coffee growers receive little benefit. The United Methodist on Relief Coffee Project links congregations with small farmers and their families in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Many congregations and individual families use Fair Trade Cocoa, Tea and Coffee in response to this issue of social justice in helping farmers earn a sustainable living. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey.

Equal Exchange's Interfaith Coffee Program has formed partnerships with a number of denominational groups: Lutheran World Relief, American Friends Service Committee, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), and Brethren Witness. Equal Exchange donates a portion of the proceeds purchased by the corresponding denominations to these organizations. For example, Equal Exchange donates $2.50 to UMCOR for every case of coffee purchased by a United Methodist congregation.

For more information . . .

For farmer-friendly coffee, look for the following certification

Coffee and birds

Your coffee could help save habitat for migratory birds! What does coffee have to do with birds?  Plenty!  In the mid-elevations of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Colombia, most of the forests still standing are in traditional coffee plantations.  These provide the last refuge for birds that have lost their habitat to the vast destruction of tropical forests. The Shade Coffee Campaign reminds us that U.S. coffee drinkers comprise one-third of the world coffee market.  By purchasing coffee that is grown in the shade, we help keep shade coffee economically viable and preserve increasingly scarce habitat for our migratory neotropical birds. Birds that we enjoy in the summer, such as the Ruby-throated hummingbird, need winter homes in Central America!

For more information . . .

For bird-friendly coffee, look for one of the following certifications

Coffee and the earth

Buying organically-grown coffee will prevent pollution of the land and water in the coffee-growing countries. It also protects the health of the farmers by not using the toxic chemicals that are required when coffee is grown in the sun. Coffee traditionally grows in the shade and doesn't require the use of chemicals!

Cocoa and tea, too

And don't leave out people who don't drink coffee! Fair Trade organic cocoa and Fair Trade organic tea are also available.

Cocoa

Did you know that 43% of cocoa beans come from the Ivory Coast ... and that child slavery exists in the cocoa industry? Cocoa workers who receive wages live in poverty. Buying Fair Trade cocoa, also available through the Equal Exchange Interfaith program, ensures that the cocoa was not produced using child labor and that workers receive a fair price for their labor.

The US chocolate industry has agreed to work to end child slavery by 2005, but their plan involves "voluntary standards" and does NOT guarantee fair and stable cocoa prices, which is the only way to end child slavery and exploitation for good.      (From Global Exchange)

Tea

Organically grown and certified for the highest quality and flavor, Fair Trade teas, also available through the Equal Exchange Interfaith program, guarantee fair wages for workers, improving their opportunities for better health care, housing and education. Selecting Fair Trade tea assures a direct benefit to the livelihood of the tea growing community. (From Global Exchange)

Where to buy these coffees (... and teas and cocoa!)

Online . . . (Be aware that there are shipping costs for some of these!)

Equal Exchange This is the supplier for many congregations. This company has an Interfaith Program and provides useful educational materials. All of their coffees are Fair Trade, but not all are also shade-grown and organic. Choose carefully, and you can serve a cup of justice for the farmers, the birds, and the earth at no additional cost! If your denomination is a partner in this program, your denomination's aid organization may receive a donation for each purchase you make. For example, UMCOR receives money for purchases made by United Methodist churches. There are no shipping charges (at the time this was written.) 

Outreach Coffee Company Their products are fair-trade, organic, and shade-grown

Thanksgiving Coffee Company (Certified by Rainforest Alliance)

Café Canopy (One of the few available online that is certified by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.)

Montana Coffee Traders

Here are some sources of Fair Trade, shade-grown, organic coffee in Central New York

Wegmans Grocery Stores (in the Nature's Marketplace section)
(various locations throughout New York State)

Freedom of Expresso 
Note: Call ahead to see if it's available that day.
424 Pearl St.
Syracuse, NY
Phone: 472-0705

The Java Juice Coffee Shop
24 W. Main St. 
Marcellus, NY
Serves Fair Trade, shade grown, organic Sumatra coffee.

The Kind Coffee Co.
715 W. Fayette St.
Syracuse, NY
Phone: 425-0035

Syracuse Real Food Coop
618 Kensington Road
Syracuse, NY 13210
Phone: 472-1385