When I was talking to Masha of the SF Bay Guardian, she mentioned she’d heard some controversies about fair trade certification.

True, too true. At the time, I likened the controversies to some of the bickering us lefties are often known for (vs., say, Republicans, who’re stereotyped as blindly following the leader). We have similar goals, but different ideas as to how those goals might be best achieved. So we discuss (argue?) those different ideas. Loudly.

Discussion’s good, yes? Hopefully, it’ll lead to better ideas emerging, and a continued examination of both our actions and goals in the fair trade movement.

The problem, though, gets most poignant when those who are NOT committed to fair trade ideals start using some of those arguments to badmouth fair trade altogether.

Take Starbucks, for example, which constantly counters fair trade activists by saying fair trade certification doesn’t allow for plantations and individual farms, and thus won’t work for most of their coffee purchases. This makes fair trade certification seem limited at best and exclusive at worst.

The reality is that, because large, multinational companies with power and money — like Starbucks or Nestle — haven’t made a larger commitment to fair trade certified coffee, lots of fair trade certified coffee ends up being sold for lower, “market” prices.

Now you may agree or disagree on whether plantations should eventually be allowed to get fair trade certified. But most would agree that it doesn’t make sense to let big plantations get the fair trade seal RIGHT NOW, effectively flooding the fair trade coffee market, when the EXISTING fair trade certified co-ops — who’ve been paying (what some would call steep) certification prices and engaged with the fair trade movement — are as of yet unable to find a market for all of their coffee beans.

The controversies are real. But I get a lil angry when I see the conniving way less-than-fully committed coffee companies use these controversies to create public distrust about the fair trade seal — in an effort to stymie the fair trade movement, instead of to engage in an honest debate about improving the system.

Of course, the same companies have no problems pointing to their meager percentage of fair trade purchases to greenwash their image.

I’ve talked about Nestle’s recent entry into the UK fair trade market before, but I have to say the megacorp’s actions are just getting more and more disgusting. Yes, since Nestle’s fair trade Partner’s Blend was introduced late last year, a puny .01% of Nestle’s coffee’s bought at fair trade prices. With that, Nestle claims it’s had a “long term commitment to develop sustainable agricultural practices”, with Partner’s Blend as a latest initiative toward solving the problem.

And never mind the fact that a landmark lawsuit against Nestle — among other choco makers — is already underway. Nestle’s chocolate’s produced through forced child labor.

Which is why you might check out The Green Life’s new letter campaign. The Green Life’s dubbed Nestle “Greenwasher of the Month” for February and launched a campaign to “ask Nestle’s CEO to change their coffee-buying practices so that they truly deserve the fair trade label.” Of course, campaigns against Nestle’s been going on for many, many years — Then again, maybe this e-letter campaign will help push Nestle into some real action?

But this whole coffee and chocolate debacle around Nestle and fair trade makes me wonder — What would happen if Nestle suddenly tried to get into the fair trade chocolate market?

I’m personally against shutting out megacorps entirely — I think that would further make fair trade certification seem exclusive, even elitist. Plus, if we’re gonna push megacorps to change, we need to give them a way TO change. But — the blatant greenwashing by companies with miniscule “commitments” to fair trade is really grossing me out.

In the wake of the rather divisive aftermath caused by Nestle’s Partner’s Blend — I’m wondering — should we as activists push for more specific standards when megacorps try to enter the market?

Later this week: Some of these more specific standards that’ve been suggested so far.