MAKE A
DIFFERENCE!

TRUE CERTIFIED COFFEE

Cafe Fair bag

Café Fair Coffees are certified by:

USDA logo OCIA logo Fair Trade Comisson logo Rainforest friendly logo

Always

FAIRLY TRADED

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Always

ORGANIC

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Always

ECO FRIENDLY

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Always

FRESH ROASTED

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Fairtrade Certified vs “Fair Trade”
Fair Trade Comisson logo

FAIRTRADE refers to Fairtrade organizations (such as Fairtrade America) or products certified through the Fairtrade Labeling International organization (FLO).

FAIR TRADE is just two words used in marketing that have no special meaning by themselves and are not the trademark of the International Fairtrade system. Anyone can use the words Fair Trade on any product regardless of the products’ origin or handling, or create a snappy logo with the word Fair Trade.

Avoid being fooled! How can you tell if it is truly Fairtrade?

It’s simple - only products carrying the mark above are legitimately Fairtrade Certified!

Farmer picking beans
Farmer picking beans
The Socially Responsible Coffee

Café Fair was founded to improve the life and dignity of our organic coffee farmers by linking them with socially conscious shoppers in the US. Only through fair livable wages, conscientious stewardship, and your commitment will we see sustainable agriculture flourish.

Certifications table
Coffee
Roast / Flavor
Kosher
Certified
Organic
Certified
Fairtrade®
Certified
Rainforest
Alliance
Café Fair Blend · · ·
Chem Free Decaf · · ·
Chem Free Decaf French Roast · · ·
Dark Honduran · · ·
Dark Guatemalan · · · ·
Dark Peru · · ·
Earth, Wind and Fire · · ·
El Salvador · · ·
El Salvador - Dark · · ·
Espresso · · ·
Ethiopian · ·
French Roast · · ·
Guatemalan · · ·
Hazelnut · · ·
Honduran · · ·
Machu Pichu · · ·
Morning Blend · · ·
Peru · · ·
Flavored Café Fair · · ·
Cafe Fair Coffee - Sustainable Practices and Social Responsibility
Cafe Fair was developed In the 1990s to help support our growers, and their workers and communities. In addition, Cafe Fair coffees are eco-friendly and always organic.

We have collaborated with reputable organizations such as Fairtrade International and the Rainforest Alliance to help us accomplish our mission, and to provide assurance that we are meeting our commitment as the Socially Responsible coffee that you want in your cup. Only by providing decent wages, conscientious agricultural practices, and with your commitment, will truly sustainable agriculture flourish.

Below are the various organizations - or agencies that accredit them - that certify Cafe Fair Coffees, along with a brief explanation of each, links to their sites, and links to some informational materials you can download in PDF format.

Bird Friendly logo

Fairtrade International (FLO)

Fairtrade International is a non-profit organization with partners and supporters all over the globe. They develop Fairtrade Standards, support and educate producers, and co-ordinate the International Fairtrade system. And they own the FAIRTRADE Certification Mark, a registered trademark that appears on more than 27,000 products in 120 countries. Over 1.2 million small farmers and workers in 66 countries benefit from Fairtrade through stable prices, training, and financial premiums for education, healthcare and farm improvements.

Fairtrade International partners with an independent certifying organization - FLO-CERT - to inspect and certify producer networks representing small farmers and workers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, a network of national Fairtrade organizations around the world promote Fairtrade in their countries. In the U.S., Fairtrade America is the partner organization that audits and certifies Fairtrade coffee sales and purchases by Steep & Brew.

> Fairtrade International

> Fairtrade Resources Network

> FLO-CERT

> Fairtrade America

Rainforest Friendly logo

Rainforest Alliance Certified

The Rainforest AllianceTM is an international nonprofit organization that works to conserve biodiversity and promote the rights and well-being of workers, their families and communities. Farms that meet comprehensive standards for sustainability earn the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal. These standards conserve biodiversity, ensure that soils, waterways and wildlife habitat is protected and that farm workers enjoy decent housing, access to medical care and schools for their children. Farms must commit to a process of continuous improvement and are audited each year in order to maintain their certification. By shopping for products bearing the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal, consumers can support a healthy environment and help to improve the quality of life for farm families. To learn more about the Rainforest Alliance and its programs, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.

> Rainforest Alliance Vision for Sustainability Brochure

> Rainforest Alliance Overview and Fact Sheet

> Rainforest Alliance 2018 Impacts Report

> Rainforest Alliance 2017 Annual Report

USDA Organic logo

USDA Organic Certification

Organic coffee farmers view the entire farm as one ecosystem. With an emphasis on one healthy biosphere, farmers focus on recycling, composting and soil health, strictly avoiding the use of synthetic herbicides and dangerous pesticides.

The National Organic Program was established to assure consumers that the organic foods they purchase are produced according to standard organic practices and requirements across state and international lines. Organic certification agencies (OCAs) inspect and verify that organic farmers, ranchers, distributors, processors, and traders are complying with the USDA organic regulations. USDA conducts audits and ensures that the more than 90 organic certification agencies operating around the world are properly certifying organic products. In addition, the USDA conducts investigations and enforcement activities to ensure all products labeled as organic meet the USDA organic regulations.

In order to display the USDA Organic logo on their products, a company must also have a valid organic certificate from a USDA authorized organic certifying agent (i.e.. MOSA).

> What Is Organic? (USDA NOP fact sheet)

> What is Organic Certification? (USDA NOP fact sheet)

> Organic Product Labeling (USDA NOP fact sheet)

OCIA Organic Certification logo

OCIA Organic Certification

The Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA International) is a nonprofit, member-owned, organic certification organization and an accredited world leader in the certified organic industry. OCIA provides certification services to thousands of organic farmers, processors and handlers in North, Central and South America, and Asia.

OCIA International is one of the world’s oldest, largest and most trusted leaders in the organic certification industry. A nonprofit, member-owned, agricultural organization, OCIA is dedicated to providing the highest quality organic certification services and access to global organic markets.

OK Kosher logo

OK KOSHER IN BRIEF

OK Kosher is the world’s leading orthodox kosher certification agency – recognized as the global benchmark for kosher standards and integrity. This outstanding reputation has been achieved through continual improvement and innovation, as well as through first-rate customer support. OK Kosher operates an international network of offices, so you can rely on our teams of experts to provide specialized kosher certification anywhere in the world. Our certification services enable you to demonstrate to your customers that your products, processes, and systems are compliant with the highest standards and regulations.

The OK kosher mark is one of the world’s best-known trademarks; it immediately and universally increases company marketability, accountability, and kosher acceptability. With our unparalleled knowledge, integrity and experience, OK Kosher sets the bar when it comes to kosher certification standards. Since 1935 OK Kosher has been well regarded for its unique approach to kosher certification, technology, and innovation in the continually evolving food and beverage industry.

> ok.org

Additional Resources

The organizations and certifications above represent the major players in the specialty coffee industry, but there are many more. And there is much debate about the impact of each organization and the costs/impact of certifications. Some roasters attempt to bypass it all through direct trade, or by creating their own certifications. Be weary of companies that claim their products are fairly traded yet refuse to partner with certifying organizations, often on the pretense of avoiding the administrative fees, so that they can give a larger share to the growers. While their intentions may be good, they are not supporting the inspection services and expertise provided by these NGO’s to growers around the world, which are crucial to improving both living conditions and farming practices on a worldwide scale. They are also not submitting their own operations to inspections from certifying agencies, which confirm and compare wholesale purchases to retail sales, and monitor their practices. Education, correct practices, inspection and enforcement from grower through producer to retailer are crucial to maintaining the integrity of the fair trade and organic supply chains.

> Sustainable Coffee Certifications: A Comparison Matrix

> ethicalcoffee.net