University Mennonite supports the Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Coffee Project that links Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches with small farmers growing fair trade coffee. We serve fairly traded coffee from Equal Exchange during our fellowship hour. Fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolate products are also available for individual purchase at the Ten Thousand Villages store at 1341 S. Atherton (just 2 blocks from our church).
The economic realities of coffee production often leave poor farmers struggling to earn a simple living or provide basic needs for their families. Supporting and purchasing fairly traded coffee, tea, and chocolate products is one way that you can advocate for justice for those living in the poorest countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
You can make a difference in the lives of others by purchasing products that provide a fair price to the farmers that produce the food you enjoy. The goals of Equal Exchange fair trade practices are:
- Raising and stabilizing the incomes of small-scale farmers, farm workers, and artisans
- More equitably distributing the economic gains, opportunities and risks associated with the production and sale of these goods
- Increasing the organizational and commercial capacities of producer groups
- Supporting democratically owned and controlled producer organizations
- Promoting labor rights and the right of workers to organize
- Promoting safe and sustainable farming methods and working conditions
- Connecting consumers and producers
- Increasing consumer awareness and engagement with issues affecting producers