“Equal Exchange is like drinking a cup of justice... and justice can taste outstanding.” Pastor Timothy Bernard, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Champion, Michigan

Can coffee drinkers really affect the economy of farmers in Third World countries? Surprisingly, yes. By drinking coffee grown on cooperatives that adhere to fair trade practices, java lovers can enjoy gourmet blends and improve the way of life for farmers and their families in Latin America and Africa.

Bonnie Bobbitt, a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, first became aware of the plight of coffee growers about two years ago, after reading a column by The Citizen's Sallie Satterthwaite. In her column, Satterthwaite capsulized the history of coffee up to the present.

Modern practices have forced the small farmer to change the traditional way of growing plants, up his production through ecologically destructive means, sell out or lose money sticking to the old ways. (See column page )

“I was very moved by what she wrote. It made sense to support the small farmer who grows in a co-op that doesn't give the money to the middle man, but instead gives it to the farmer and his family,” Bobbitt said. “I tucked it away in my mind,” she continued, and last fall, decided to take action.

Through some web surfing, Bobbitt discovered a wealth of information about Equal Exchange and the Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project which involves some 1,300 Lutheran congregations.

With the help of church staff and the blessings of pastors Justin Kollmeyer and Keith Hedrick, Bobbitt spearheaded a quarterly coffee sale. The first sale in November sold $400 of top-of-line Equal Exchange brand coffee to the church and its members, with the brew used regularly during fellowship meetings.

The February sale was modestly successful, and now Bobbitt is gearing up for the May 21 ordering time and sale. Six different flavors and types will be offered: Organic Breakfast Blend, Cafe Salvador, Organic Mind, Body and Soul, Hazelnut Cream, Organic Decaf and whole bean.

In return, the farmers receive about $3 per case sold through the co-op. “What's different about working with World Exchange is that we send our coffee directly to them without intermediaries. The extra money that our cooperatives receive makes a difference in medicines and nurseries to care for our children,” said Mateo Rendon of FESACORA a cooperative federation in El Salvador.

The cooperative approach eliminates the middleman, and assures that the farmer receives a fair price for his product. “We used to live in houses made of corn husks; now we have better work, better schools, homes of adobe, and a greater brotherhood of decision-makers,” said Don Miguel Sifontes, president of a coffee cooperative that sells to Equal Exchange.

The consumer also benefits by having an opportunity to buy organically grown and shade-grown coffee offered at a competitive price, about $3.50 per pound, comparable to a supermarket brand coffee.

Churches interested in setting up their own coffee ministry can phone Equal Exchange at 781-830-0303 or e-mail interfaith@equalexchange.com. Lutherans can e-mail Lutheran World Relief at www.lwr.org/coffee.html.

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