Fair Trade News

NYC - Res. No. 762-A

Resolution recognizing and supporting the efforts of organizations that work to increase consumer awareness of and commitment to poor farming communities around the world through Fair Trade and strongly encouraging the purchase of Fair-Trade Certified coffee, especially by City agencies that use taxpayers’ money to purchase coffee

By Council Members Brewer, Barron, Clarke, Gerson, Jackson, James, Lopez, Martinez, Palma, Quinn, Sanders Jr., Moskowitz, Reed, Perkins and Arroyo

Whereas, Coffee is the world's second most actively traded commodity, after crude oil, with approximately 25 million farmers and coffee workers in over 25 countries involved in producing coffee around the world; and

Whereas, Americans consume one-fifth of all the world's coffee, making the United States the largest coffee consuming country in the world; and

Whereas, Few Americans realize that many agricultural workers in the coffee industry work under abysmal conditions for meager wages and small coffee farmers are vulnerable to volatile market pricing and often receive prices for their coffee that are less than the costs of production, forcing them into a cycle of poverty and debt; and

Whereas, Intensive and industrial coffee farming contributes to environmental problems, such as the contamination of air and water supplies through pesticide poisoning, destruction of tropical forests, and the loss of habitat of many songbird species; and

Whereas, Many consumers are searching for more socially conscious and environmentally responsible
ways for conducting their lives which do not exploit people, animals, or the environment; and

Whereas, Currently, Fair Trade Certification represents a viable solution with respect to coffee production by offering an equitable and fair partnership between consumers in North America and producers in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean that addresses market imbalances by

1. guaranteeing for small farmers a minimum price per pound that always exceeds the market price and is no less than $1.26,
2. ensuring direct and long-term trade relationships between importers and producers, and
3. encouraging organic and sustainable cultivation practices; and

Whereas, Fair Trade provides much-needed credit to farmers, and also offers technical assistance such as help transitioning to organic farming and improving product quality; and

Whereas, With the benefits generated through the Fair Trade system, small coffee growers are able to
invest in community development, health, education, and environmental protection; and

Whereas, Numerous Fair Trade certifying agencies such as TransFair USA, Fair Trade associations such as the Fair Trade Federation, advocacy organizations, and businesses have taken a leadership role in promoting social justice and environmental sustainability through Fair Trade; and

Whereas, As a leading consumer of goods and services, the City of New York has a responsibility to set a high standard of ethics with regard to economic activities for our community, and to ensure that its capital is spent in a manner consistent with decent moral principles, including obtaining goods produced under fair conditions; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York recognizes and supports the efforts of organizations that work to increase consumer awareness of and commitment to poor farming communities around the world through Fair Trade; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York strongly encourages the purchase of Fair-Trade Certified coffee, especially by City agencies that use taxpayers’ money to purchase coffee.