The other Q I get a lot whenever a big corp enters the fair trade market: So, Siel — Will you be shopping at [insert big corp name] now?
Well, that sorta depends on the big corp, and why I wasn’t shopping there in the first place. Meaning: I don’t have a one-track mind that revolves only around fair trade coffee. It’s an issue I’m passionate about, but not my sole raison d’etre.
Take McDonald’s, for instance. I already said that I liked how the company’s changed over 100% of the coffee in more than 600 of its restaurants to fair trade, organic coffee from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.
Now if I’m ever near one of these 600+ restaurants in the northeast, it’s quite certain that I’d stop in for a celebratory fair trade cuppa.
But no, I won’t be eating a big mac meal anytime soon, let alone making it a staple of my diet. Why not? Well, for one, I don’t eat hormone-infused red meat or drink pus-fortified milkshakes.
I’ve also read Fast Food Nation. I’ve watched Supersize Me and McLibel. And frankly, I’m really, really grossed out by the majority of what McDonald’s has to offer. I’m not gonna buy it or eat it.
The same goes for Walmart. Obviously, the lack of fair trade coffee was an issue. But that wasn’t the MAIN reason I didn’t shop there. According to the Washington Post, “Ronnie Cummins, the group’s [Organic Consumers Association's] national director, said the most common complaints about Wal-Mart — that it runs out small businesses and lowers prices and wages to unsustainable levels — do not disappear just because the merchandise changes.”
Until Walmart stops killing small businesses and starts treating employees like people, I’m not gonna be making Walmart my one-stop-shop.
And the thing with coffee is — We’ve got options. Why buy from Walmart when you can buy from a 100% fair trade committed company like Monkey & Son or Just Coffee or Taylor Maid Farms?
I’m glad Walmart’s looking into fair trade — cuz it’ll hopefully get more people thinking about social justice issues. But that doesn’t absolve Walmart of all of its nasty business practices.
But if some people decide to stop by Walmart for some fair trade coffee — I guess I’m okay with that as a symbolic gesture. Just don’t get anything else there. Says Jeff of Sustainablog: “I’ll tell you what: if Wal-Mart agrees to this contract, and if no one else can show me a legitimate reason why I shouldn’t, I will take my first trip in years to one of their stores and buy some Bom Dia coffee. While I do think the company still has a lot of work to do in terms of its social and environmental responsibility, I think a move like this deserves recognition. Will I start doing all of my shopping there? No, for a number of reasons. But, I’ll have no problem making this specific purchase, and going back for more…”
wouldn’t it be great if every town across this great country had easy access to a small local 100% fair trade roasting coffee company? a dream for sure.
BUT
the fact remains that many of our fellow citizens have one option-Walmart. either from the fact that it’s the only store in town or buying boutique roasted coffee online doesn’t fit their budget. SO, why shouldn’t these american consumers be empowered to purchase Fair Trade Certified coffee at Walmart? why shouldn’t they be allowed to learn about the fair trade story and make purchases accordingly? a lot of people think fair trade coffee should only be for people who live in urban centers on the coast or in alternative communities in the north coast of california…but, it should be for everyone. i’m glad you see the potential of greater consumer empowerment Siel…
Comment by ummm.... — June 13, 2006 @ 1:17 pm
Thanks for the nod, Siel. I’ve got the same problems with Wal-Mart’s decimation of local businesses and treatment of its workers, and that’s why I haven’t shopped there, also. I think it’s important, though, that we recognize a good move on their part, and I think, should they adapt Bom Dia coffee for all of their stores, that would be a tremendous boost for the Brazilian farmers raising this coffee and the Fair Trade movement in general. So, yep, I’ll go buy some Bom Dia should this come to pass… Interestingly enough, I’m one of those folks that really has to go out of their way to find a Wal-Mart — in fact, I’m not certain where the closest one is… one of the nice things about urban living…
Comment by Jeff at sustainablog — June 13, 2006 @ 2:29 pm
I too would have a hard time getting to a Walmart. There IS one in Los Angeles, but it’s really out of the way for me. Luckily, the behemoth’s been kept out of everywhere else, most recently from Inglewood :)
Comment by Siel — June 15, 2006 @ 10:22 pm
Hi Siel,
I live in Fairfield IA, a town of 10,000 which has a Walmart. Here there are other sources of fair trade products, including coffee, but Fairfield is exceptional. Most towns this size don’t have much choice except to shop at Walmart, because many of the other stores have been put out of business. Personally, if I drank coffee, and wanted to buy fair trade, I’d go without or start a buying club, before I’d shop at Walmart, but that’s because I know a lot about Walmart. Most people don’t.
Comment by Judy Kingsbury — June 17, 2006 @ 5:44 am
Hey Judy! I hear ya — it’s hard for a lotta people to see any fair trade coffee on sale locally, which, to me, is the main reason to be happy ’bout the Walmart deal. What I meant by the having other options bit had more to do with the ease of web-ordering these days :) I mean, I’d buy local whenever possible, but shopping at yr local Walmart isn’t exactly local :P Given the option between web-orders of fair trade coffee from 100% fair trade roasters, vs. buying fair trade coffee at Walmart, I’d opt for the former. But hopefully Walmart will actually make people think about these options to start! :)
Comment by Siel — June 17, 2006 @ 10:41 pm
I just want to say that I think it is great that walmart A. is buying fair trade coffee and B. is doing something about the environment. I agree with you 100%, Siel, this will make people think. Because Walmart is such a large part of middle America and the mainstream, it is in a powerful position to influence people and even other companies. And for those people who do not have the money for the fair trade and organic products, and shop at Walmart anyway, now they have been put within reach. My hope is that Walmart keep on moving in this positive direction. I have been truly impressed so far.
Comment by trish — September 26, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
Though one could make the argument that Walmart’s getting a lot of good attention w/o actually changing its biz practices. Walmart’s use of free teenage labor‘s still pretty gross. Plus Walmart’s already been backing off organics –
Comment by Siel — September 29, 2007 @ 11:05 am