Fair Trade Organic is something that I find myself looking for in products, but I have been guilty of not really understanding what it means in the past! That’s so silly! So I did some reading and it sounds pretty simple.
Fair Trade– This means that traders (brokers and the middle man) have to:
- Pay a price to producers that covers the costs of sustainable production and living.
- Pay a premium that producers can invest in development
- Pay partially in advance if asked
- Sign a contract that allows for long-term planning and sustainable production practices
Organic– This refers to how the coffee is grown and processed. Organic food production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes the soil without using toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers. In the coffee world this could mean coffee pulp, manure from livestock and coffee chaff. Organic coffees are minimally processed without ingredients, preservatives or irradiation to maintain the integrity of the coffee.
Certified Organic– This is a really strict organic standard, regulated and verified by independent or private organizations. These organizations would do inspection reports on crops and processing and detailed record keeping.
I hope that this helps you understand Fair trade Organic and Certified Organic better!