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Adrienne Leicester Smith Oxfam America
617-728-2406 cell 617-448-5855 asmith@oxfamamerica.org
BOSTON, CAMBRIDGE, AND COFFEE RETAILERS RECOGNIZE FAIR TRADE
DAY: OXFAM HONORS FAIR TRADE HEROES
BOSTON, MA, May 18th, 2001 On Saturday, May 19th, Boston and
Cambridge,
like many cities around the country, will be celebrating Fair
Trade Day by talking about coffee. In Cambridge, City Councilor
Marjorie Decker has sponsored a resolution declaring May 19th
Fair Trade Day in the City of Cambridge, and on Monday, May 21st,
Councilor Decker will host a reception to honor and recognize
Oxfam America and Boston-founded, Canton-based Equal Exchange,
the pioneer of Fair Trade coffee in the U.S.
Fair Trade is the alternative form of trade that directly connects
small coffee farmers with importers, and pays their cooperatives
a minimum of $1.26/lb for their coffee products nearly triple
the current coffee pricing average of .40 cents/lb, which leaves
coffee farmers living in chronic poverty.
At Monday¹s Cambridge City Council meeting, Oxfam America will
present an Oxfam Heroes Award to Equal Exchange, Oxfam¹s longtime
friend in the struggle for justice and fairness. Also receiving
the Oxfam Heroes Award will be Harvard student Jordan Bar Am,
Fair Trade organizer and Harvard Living Wage Campaign sit-in participant.
Councilor Decker said, "Choosing Fair Trade Certified coffee
is a way to do something positive about poverty, it¹s a way we
in Cambridge can think globally, but act locally."
The city of Boston has also issued a proclamation honoring Fair
Trade Day, and earlier today, Mayor Menino served Fair Trade Certified
to constituents in Dorchester.
While more and more local retailers are beginning to carry Fair
Trade coffee in bags, few brew it daily. For the first time ever,
Starbucks is brewing Fair Trade coffee today only. On Saturday,
Peet's Coffee and Tea, Border's Café and Seattle¹s Best coffee
will be brewing Fair Trade Coffee.
Fair Trade coffee is indeed catching on, but the original Fair
Trade coffee company began operations right here in Boston fifteen
years ago. In 1986, Equal Exchange was founded to create a new
a new approach to trade one that includes informed consumers,
honest and fair trade relationships, and cooperative principles.
Oxfam and Equal Exchange have worked together since the company's
inception.
Oxfam President Raymond C. Offenheiser said, "We are very
honored to have the opportunity to thank Equal Exchange, our long-time
partner in justice, for their leadership and vision in providing
passionate, yet reasoned information about Fair Trade coffee.
Many have tried to join the bandwagon since, but no one comes
close to being you."
As a worker-owned co-op, Equal Exchange has accomplished a great
deal by offering consumers fairly traded gourmet coffee direct
from small-scale farmer co-ops in Latin America, Africa and Asia.
Said Equal Exchange¹s Co-Director Rob Everts, "For fifteen
years, Equal Exchange has sought to establish more equitable trade
relations between U.S. consumers and small producers in the developing
world. We have learned that when consumers are given a credible
alternative, most will opt to put their values into their purchases."
"We are grateful for Oxfam America's recognition of our
role in pioneering fair trade and we congratulate the City Council
for taking this first step to engage residents in this growing
movement to bring justice into the marketplace."
Why coffee? Because one cup of coffee embodies the global issues
of greatest concern to Oxfam: poverty, social injustice and environmental
degradation.
Coffee is the second most heavily traded commodity in the world
after oil. It is grown on 26 million acres in nearly 80 countries
and requires the labor of 20 million people. 130 Million Americans
drink coffee, buying 450 million cups daily. Americans alone
spend $18 billion dollars a year on coffee.
For more information on Oxfam¹s Fair Trade Coffee Campaign, please
visit www.oxfamamerica.org/fairtrade.
To learn more about Fair Trade Certification, please visit www.transfairusa.org
or call TransFair USA at
510-663-5261.
Contact: Adrienne Leicester Smith 617-728-2406 or cell 617-448-5855
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