Oxfam Launches International Fair Trade Coffee Campaign

Oxfam Launches International Fair Trade Coffee Campaign

WASHINGTON--Oxfam launched "What's That inYour Coffee?," an international campaign to support fair trade coffee. Overthe past five years, coffee prices have fallen almost 70 percent from a high in1997, to a 30-year low in many cases, forcing coffee farming families out ofbusiness, according to Oxfam. Small coffee farmers in developing countries areselling their beans now for less than they cost to produce, according to thecompany. Oxfam also released a report--Mugged: Poverty in Your Coffee Cup--whichcalls for the major players in the coffee industry to support a plan to overcomethe current crisis and create a more stable market. The report analyzes theorigins and effects of collapsed coffee prices and urges American consumers tojoin Oxfam in bringing relief to farmers and a change to the system. Oxfam'sfocus on the coffee trade is part of its overall "Make Trade Fair"campaign, which was launched last April. "Americans can help end the coffeecrisis by insisting on fair trade coffee wherever they buy or drinkcoffee," said Liam Brody, coffee program coordinator at Oxfam America (www.oxfamamerica.com)."Fair trade coffee is available in stores and restaurants all over thecountry."