Since our very first container of coffee, Peace Coffee has been committed to working directly with the farmers from whom we buy our coffee. All the coffee that we buy is fairly traded—as well as being organic and delicious—meaning that every pound goes towards supporting healthy communities everywhere we do business.

Why Fair Trade?
More than half the world's coffee is grown by farmers who tend tiny remote plots of often marginal land. Economics, location, and inequities in land distribution have historically left these farmers at the whims of local traders, compelling them to sell their beans for whatever price was offered.

The Solution?
By joining forces to form cooperatives, farmers can process their own coffee and make their own business decisions about every step of ushering this complex product to port. These co-ops offer powerful economies of scale for otherwise marginalized producers. Additionally, in communities where basic services can be rudimentary to non-existent, cooperatives often provide clinics, schools, and technical assistance with development projects as well as quality improvement measures.

What is Fair Trade?
We work directly with co-ops, engaging with producers to negotiate fair prices that acknowledge the value of their exceptional coffee. We pay additional premiums for organic coffee in recognition of the additional stewardship required—stewardship that benefits the environment, the planet, and all of us. Coffee is a cash-intensive crop, so we share the risks and expenses of the harvest by assisting with pre-harvest financing so farmers don't have to choose between fertilizing their fields and feeding their families.

To support our goals for a better, more fair coffee trade, we co-founded Cooperative Coffees, an importing co-op of coffee roasters throughout North America. Owning our own importer means that no one has to turn a profit between us and the farmers who grow the coffee—thus we're able to pay industry-leading prices to producers and return more of the price of each pound back to the people who grew it.

We build lasting partnerships with the farmers who grow our coffee.  Year after year, we work together towards a shared vision of a coffee trade that supports communities around the globe. These relationships provide the venue for feedback about what works and what doesn't—vital information as we collaborate to continually improve both quality in the cup and quality of life.

We travel regularly to visit the communities where we do business as we believe that direct relationships with our partners provide the best compass for all of us as we reinvent the supply chain. Sometimes we're leading workshops on cupping and roasting coffee; sometimes we're discussing the future of the coffee trade. We're always listening and sharing information.

Last but not least, we strive to be transparent in all our business dealings. That means that we make our coffee contracts available online, allowing anyone to see how much we've paid for each lot of coffee.
Call us or drop us a line with any question you may have—while the answer may be complex, we're always happy to share.