Students for Fair Trade is currently working with the UW Fair Trade Coffee Coalition to try to increase the availability of Fair Trade Coffee on campus. Please join us at our meetings - the second and fourth Wednesdays fo every month at 6:00 p.m. in Smith 309.

Feel free to join SFFT's  Mailing List to get updates about events and opportunities to get involved.

Mondays during Autumn Quarter:

The UW Fair Trade Coffee Coalition will be tabling from 7:30 to 10:30 on the corner of 17th and 45th (the main gate of the UW) handing out free Fair Trade coffee! So leave your coffee at home and get your Fair Trade fix to start off Monday mornings right.

What is "Fair Trade"?

Fair trade is a system based on the interaction of independent farmers' co-operatives and companies. The company pays the co-ops for fair trade goods based on a minimum price (for example, it is currently $1.26 per pound for coffee), regardless of market conditions, and fluctuates above that price based on the market conditions. Under a "free trade" system, there is no minimum price. Some farmers are paid less than their production cost of $.75 per pound, and subsequently lose their farms and their livelihoods. Fair trade also cuts out the middlemen between the farmers and the companies, passing the savings onto the farmers, who receive at least the guaranteed price. Most fair trade coffee doesn't cost more than free trade coffee, and 85% of it is organic. Fair Trade doesn't only apply to coffee. Recently, chocolate, sugar, bananas, tea and mangoes have been added to the products that can be Fair Trade Certified.

-Be sure to ask for Fair Trade at your favorite stores and cafes.

Look for this logo to make sure it's Fair Trade Certified.

questions? comments? want to get involved? email SFFT or Celine.

Please do not take photos without permission. Images used on our site are © TransfairUSA, Students for Fair Trade-UW, or Community Alliance for Global Justice.