Coffee Project
Fair Trade and the Environment
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and equal Exchange are proud to be partners working on Fair Trade and environmental justice together with congregations across the U.S. As a participant in the Presbyterian Coffee Project, you make a positive impact on the planet and on the people who grow our food through your regular purchases of Equal Exchange fairly traded products.
We invite you, to share in this vision of protecting the environment-a vision that connects you to the planet and to the small farmer co-operatives who produce food in a sustainable way.
Our Farmer Partners are Greening the Planet
- Over 90% of the crops raised by Equal Exchange's small farmer partners are certified organic, meaning that no toxic chemical fertilizers or chemical pesticides are used that pollute the air or harm the earth. Farmers and their families steer clear of physical contact with these chemicals.
- Equal Exchange supports small-scale farmer practices such as terracing, water conservation, manual weeding, and crop diversification-all of which lead to greater soil fertility and reduce erosion.
- Farmers in Fair trade co-operatives are encouraged to plant additional coffee trees and citrus plants to assist and increase bio-diversity and wildlife habitats. These practices also improve pest control, help to avoid soil erosion, and provide other food sources to the community.
- Co-op farmers plant shade trees as opposed to clear-cutting trees in conventional monocrop plantations. This helps to preserve songbird habitat, shield farmers from harmful UV rays, cool the planet and absorb carbon dioxide, a harmful greenhouse gas. All of these techniques help to remedy the extensive landscape degradation and deforestation that has occurred in countries over decades of environmental abuse.
Thanks to the support, small farmers have the means to help restore these landscapes as a result of the market access and improved income from the Fair Trade system.
Equal Exchange Interfaith Program - 50 United Drive, West Bridgewater, MA 02379 *Enough for Everyone Program www.pcusa.org/enough