Good coffee is a Fair Trade

FIONA GOODALL

ETHICAL COFFEE: Gareth and Andie Davis are encouraging people to participate in an Oxfam coffee break as part of Fair Trade Fortnight.

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DRINKING coffee may never be as beneficial as having one for the Oxfam coffee break.

The international aid organisation is holding the event as part of Fair Trade Fortnight from May 1.

Buying Fair Trade products is an effective way to help growers in the developing world to work their way out of poverty through better prices, decent working conditions, environmentally sustainable farming methods and investment in local community development.

Individuals, groups, businesses and schools can sign up to hold a coffee break to raise awareness of Fair Trade products and raise funds for Oxfam.

Andie Davis is organising an event at the Pakuranga Baptist Church on May 8.

"I have a lot of friends who drink coffee so it seems far too easy to raise money. I did it last year and it went really well so I thought I'd do it this year," she says.

Mrs Davis says she will be taking a coffee machine to church and will be using the services of a barista friend to make the coffee.

For a $5 donation her guests will also receive a piece of baking.

Oxfam provides a short DVD to play at the coffee break to help raise awareness of Fair Trade products.

"It's informative and people found it a good way to learn about Fair Trade, they didn't find it too imposing. It was quite fresh and it was good to be able to hear from the farmers personally," says Mrs Davis.

"One of the things I highlighted last year was that Fair Trade doesn't mean lower quality, so breaking through that assumption people realised the benefits of it."

She says Fair Trade is also no more expensive than other products so there is no reason not to make the switch.

She feels strongly about the issue because it impacts not only the grower but the whole community.

"I think it's so easy to have a coffee break, even in your home to have three friends around and to drink Fair Trade coffee and talk about it, because it's surprising how many people don't know about it and how you can influence others."

It can make a difference long term if people make a decision to buy Fair Trade products such as coffee, chocolate and cotton.

All the proceeds will go towards Oxfam's work to provide access to safe water and sanitation, helping to build sustainable livelihoods, providing education and healthcare and helping people to live free from persecution and violence.

Sales of Fair Trade products in New Zealand have increased in recent years.

For information go to www.oxfamcoffeebreak.org.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News