Last week I talked about coffeehouses and how they invite social discussion. They are places of debate and homes to social movements. So, doesn’t it make sense that the shops sell products that make a social statement? Enter fair trade coffee. Fair trade is a practice that originated in the Netherlands that focuses on providing economic stability to developing countries and goods producers. By definition, fair trade is, “ a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers.” Fair traded coffee was introduced in 1988 in response to a coffee crisis. It was the first agricultural good to be labeled fair trade. In 1988, there was an extremely high supply of coffee and little demand for it. Because of this, coffee producers had to sell their ...