Paying premium prices to coffee producers does not guarantee better conditions for workers, who often live in extreme poverty.

Due to varying farm structures and economic realities across the globe, no certification or one-size-fits-all solution will meaningfully address this problem — our industry has tried for decades without much success.  

The only real solution is to develop relationships with farmworkers and make efforts to uplift them. This work in the “last mile,” beyond the point of purchase, is the only way to ensure a lasting impact.

True transparency means revealing not just what producers are paid, but what farmworkers actually earn.

Empty claims of “direct trade” or “responsible sourcing” without making efforts to improve farmworker conditions only undermine a sustainable coffee future. They placate consumers, but they do nothing to bring about real change.

Learn more about what we believe on our blog.