Coffee Anyone?
Enjoying a cup of coffee is an integral part of the day for many Brethren. Did you know that by taking a sip of your favorite brew, you're connected to what has become the world's second most traded commodity?

Bitter Cup
Coffee is big business in our world today. Millions of cups are consumed each day; some 20 million people around the world depend on coffee production for their income. Unfortunately, coffee is a very unstable source of income, as prices fluctuate on the world market, and are right now at historic lows. Small producers in Central America and elsewhere earn as little as 40 cents a pound for their efforts. This will net an average family $200-$300 per year in income. Of course, someone is making money on coffee, and generally it is the middlemen (called "coyotes" in Central America) and the retailers in the US and elsewhere.

Coffee growing has another impact as well. Coffee naturally grows best in the shade of other, larger trees. In this way, raising coffee doesn't interfere drastically with the natural forest ecosystem in tropical areas where it is grown. However, higher yields can be had by packing trees closely together on hillsides in the open sunlight. Trouble is, the lack of shade stresses the trees, making it necessary to heavily fertilize them. In addition, with the forest cover now gone, so are the birds—a welcome development to insect populations. Pesticides must then be employed to control bugs.

A Decent Cup of Coffee
Here's where coffee drinkers like you come in. Equal Exchange is worker-owned fair trade organization committed to fair trade on 100% of their products. For coffee, they pay their farmer partners a guaranteed minimum of $1.26 per pound ($1.41 a pound for organic) or 5 cents per pound above market price, whichever is higher. By buying directly from cooperatives, more money gets to the grower. Equal Exchange also provides advance credit and encourages organic shade-grown coffee production.

The Brethren Witness/Washington Office of the Church of the Brethren General Board is joining with Equal Exchange to promote Fair Trade coffee within our denomination. A number of congregations are already taking part and are serving EE coffee at church fellowship events. Some have formed buyers clubs to make the coffee available to congregational members for home consumption.

You can make a difference in the lives of our global neighbors—and in the health of tropical ecosystems—every day by the simple choice of the brand of coffee you consume. Let's support our neighbors in their quest for a fair wage and a life of dignity and opportunity!

Equal Exchange offers a full line of fairly traded coffees in bulk whole bean, packaged whole bean and drip grind, percolator grind and pillow pack varieties, as well as fairly traded tea, coffee filters and cups. Click here for the PDF order form for the Church of the Brethren Coffee Project.

Find out how your family, church or community group can become involved in Equal Exchange's Interfaith Coffee Project. Contact them at: 251 Revere Street, Canton, MA 02021; 781-830-0303 ex 228; e-mail interfaith@equalexchange.com; www.equalexchange.com/interfaith.