Coffee: A Bitter Cup?

Coffee is big business- it's the second most heavily traded commodity in the world.  But for the majority of small coffee farmers, the benefits are small.  The chain of events that leads from the coffee farm to your cup is long and expensive, often leaving the farmer with very little to live on.

Most small coffee farmers live in isolated communities in some of the poorest countries in the world.  They usually sell their coffee through middlemen, known to Latin American farmers as "coyotes."  With world prices in constant flux and coyotes offering the lowest price possible, farmers never know how much they'll get for their crops.

But there is an alternative: FAIR TRADE.  Fair trade shares the bounty of the coffee trade with those who grow the crop, helping them build a better future for themselves and their communities.

What is the UMCOR Coffee Project?

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Coffee Project is a new way to help people in need while enjoying fellowship and an excellent cup of coffee.  As Christians, we can address a consumer dilemma by buying coffee that is fairly traded.  United Methodist congregations that participate are helping small-scale farmers in Latin America, Africa and Asia earn a fairer share of income, obtain access to credit and technical support, and gain a trading partner they can trust, a fair trade organization called Equal Exchange.

We are proud to serve Fair Trade Coffee during our coffee fellowship time Sunday mornings. 

Fair Trade Coffee is also available for sale on the second Sunday of each month.