As an avid coffee drinker, I am constantly searching for a better brew. I frequent the local coffee shop, Grounds for Thought, which also houses a massive collection of for-sale used books. As I become more engrossed in environmental-responsibility, I am learning a lot about organic products and fair trade products (having one doesn’t necessarily indicate the presence of the other). I purchase most of my coffee from Grounds, but sometimes I browse the selection at retail stores such as Meijer and Kroger. It is very promising when these large stores carry a wide selection of organic and fair trade coffee. They also carry an impressive selection of organic produce (to be expanded later).

Fair trade and organic coffee aren’t by any means cheap, but both are environmentally-responsible choices. Fair trade coffee helps the coffee bean farmers receive fair prices for their products instead of being subjected to large corporations who may pay low prices for the product. Fair trade ensures that farmers receive a minimum base price and also promotes using eco-friendly farming practices. Organic coffee production is similar because it ensures that the coffee beans are not grown with harmful pesticides.

Coffee drinkers can unite and promote the well-being of the environment and coffee bean farmers every morning. Ask Starbucks for a cup of fair trade coffee. There is an interesting article on TreeHugger that clarifies some of the misnomers surrounding Starbucks and fair trade coffee.