I have no idea how it tastes, though - haven’t opened the can yet. But it’s proof that Starbucks could get all three groups in a single coffee. Should reduce the waste they get from all the french-pressed stuff, ne? (that nobody makes, but if they did..)

But this Ethiopian blend sounds new — so maybe TJ’s has indeed added a triple cert blend?

I dunno — I think it must be pretty tough for small companies to put all the money, effort, and energy into getting triple certified. With TJs, since they generally do good, I’m willing to trust the stuff’s shade grown, certification or not :)

Now I wouldn’t set foot in one of their many sterile corporate establishments.

They may brag about selling “Free Trade Certified Coffee”, as if they are “doing the right thing”, but they have no problem moving in across the street from old established coffee houses in America and driving them under in droves.

Go to the PCCP co-op in Seattle if you want organically grown, environmentally friendly coffee.

I’ll have more info on the actual taste tomorrow - if I get out of bed early enough to actually make coffee ;)

Another oddity is that the majority of “welsh milk” now has to travel across the border into England to be processed, before being transported back to be sold in Welsh supermarkets. This is because the major creamery in West Wales closed earlier this year, partly due to the low prices paid by supermarkets for the milk.

BUT, perhaps we are comparing apples, and, er, organic oranges.

Fair Trade issue are mostly, albeit not entirely, progressive economic issues. Although the FT designation includes “encouragement” toward ecologically sustainable and healthier farming practices, it does not certify those.

Organic buyers may be intent on finding food that is healthiest for them, the consumer. It becomes an open question whether I would rather support a small farmer’s economic well being, or drink coffee that may well bring me harmful residues.

Organic also spares farmers, and mere workers and nearby residents the health fallout of overspray, groundwater contamination, and regular exposure to toxics. There is also a reduction in dependence on oil products.

Organic buyers may also be interested in farming practices which do not significantly war with the health of the earth, and thereby everyone’s long term health.

Similarly, shade grown coffee is an eco-health issue, avoiding the clear cutting of rainforest and other habitats.

One may need to choose. For now.

In our household, we have largely opted for organic over the other choices. Given the opportunity, we will choose organic-only over fair trade-only in a coffee. That is just the priority that seems right to us. We tend to see both the personal health benefits and global health benefits, as well as the environmental justice benefits of reduced farmer and neighbor poisoning as slightly more important than the economic justice issue alone.

This is not a sarcastic comment, either, merely a frank acknowledgement of the the barest higher ranking of organic over fair trade — for us.

We are not so wedded to organic that we poo-poo Fair Trade, or drink organic coffee or nothing. But it is a first preference.

Now here is why I like your blog, and why it is entirely consistent that — completely by accident — your header quotes Kermit the Frog and mine contradicts him. (GreenLAGirl: It’s not easy being green; Easy Green: Kermit was wrong.)

It *is* easy making the first steps toward awareness of green issues, and making simple but effective adjustments to lifestyle to have a better impact on our environmental health. It is easy to slide down that slippery slope to where it is possible to care enough to wonder about organic v. Fair Trade v. shade grown v. triple certified.

Again, the whole premise of my blog is that it is easy to do a lot of things that move one well into the greenie spectrum. But once here, it is not always clear what the *best* practice is, as there is an element of personal priority involved.

And that’s where your approach is helpful: Whereas the debate over four types of “good” coffee would likely turn a newly aware green consumer off, it is important for carrying the larger green agenda forward — including each of social, economic and environmental justice, and personal well being.

Keep asking the hard questions!

In the meantime, maybe it’s a good enough that I choose fair trade coffee, my neighbor picks shade-grown, and the kid next door works at the homeless shelter. We’re all connected, in any case.

No. No, sure, Starbucks is right. They can rape the consumer for more money by keeping it all separated. All about the bottom line, right?

Anonymous — I totally agree with you that this big corp’s habit of driving indie cafes out of biz is rather heinous :( That said, their size could mae a HUGE diff for the coffee farmers — I’m a lil stuck between pragmatic desire for widespread change, and a more purist desire for fair trade coffee in cafes with neighborhood personality –

Roger and Andrea — Ok ok — I agree all these issues are important ;) My point is NOT that fair trade is more important than organic or shade grown or whatever, but that all these issues are interrelated and it would be nice if consumers didn’t feel they had to pick a pet cause :)

Otto — I did talk about cotton subsidies in the past, but am interested in finding out more about it — Thanks for the info :)