Equal exchange coffee has a wonderful vision for the coffee industry and more
by DAVID L.
Equal Exchange was founded because of the need for fair trade in coffee. In 1986, founders Jonathan Rosenthal, Michael Rozyne and Rink Dickinson wanted more transparency between the farmers who grow our food and the people who ultimately buy it. They wanted to change the way food was produced, bought, and sold around the world.
As stated on the Equal Exchange website’s About Us page, they set out to create:
- A social change organization that would help farmers and their families gain more control over their economic futures.
- A group that would educate consumers about trade issues affecting farmers.
- A provider of high-quality foods that would nourish the body and the soul.
- A company that would be controlled by the people who did the actual work.
- A community of dedicated individuals who believed that honesty, respect, and mutual benefit are integral to any worthwhile endeavor.”
For the past 30+ years they have been doing this work, meeting and exceeding the vision of their founders. They’ve expanded into selling cocoa, chocolate bars, fruits and nuts, and high-quality teas. They continue to grow and expand their vision of connecting the buyers to the growers. I love their vision for business and am happy to see them succeed. I hope they serve as an inspiration to others in the industry for what is possible when we truly seek to create positive change.
Equal Exchange is an example of a company going the extra
mile to ensure farmers are fairly compensated for their product. They
promote the idea of the "citizen-consumer", which entails each of us
being mindful about the impact of the products we buy and the companies we
support.
From Equal Exchange Co-President:
"We now know that we cannot possibly succeed in our goal to transform the food system without the active, deep and committed participation of citizen-consumers like you. An authentic Fair Trade system requires democratic organizing of producers in the South, worker democracy for businesses in the North, and active citizen involvement in the North."
Be sure to check out their website for full details on their mission and how you can get involved. This is a great mission statement for any coffee company or consumer to be aware of. These are issues that pertain to the wider food and farming industry as well, not just the coffee industry.
As mentioned above, Equal Exchange also sell cocoa and chocolate which are ethically sourced and produced. Check out their chocolate offerings here. My personal favorite is the Organic Dark Chocolate Mint Crunch bar. Notice how in the description they list where each of the ingredients come from.
Their blog is a wealth of information, and they
produce a podcast which highlights different companies and individuals involved
in this work. Check out the podcast here!