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Producer partners weigh in on fair trade
In September, 2010, Coop Coffees and its fair trade allies were BUSY with many important events. We would be remiss to not try and get as many producer voices at the table as possible! For the Fair Trade Futures Conference (Sept 10-12), six representatives from groups that we work with were able to attend and even speak on several panels. A week later, during our annual assembly, four representatives joined our discussions on the direction of fair trade and our mutual responsibilities in shaping that direction. During their visit to Just Coffee, Policarpio of FECAFEB (Bolivia), Blanca Rosa of CECOCAFEN (Nicaragua), and Santiago Paz of CEPICAFE (Peru) "captured the ears" of the Madison media and public for an interview on a community radio station.
Thanks to generous financial support of Progreso (social lender and provider of technical assistance to farmers all over the world), the Fair Trade Futures Conference enjoyed the insightful presence of nearly 10 producer representatives from a number of different countries and industries. Out of that group, four reps from groups we work with had the opportunity to travel to Boston, and piggy-backing on their visit, we got them out to our AGM a week later in Madison.
At the conference, a number of producer representatives were invited
to speak on panels and in seminars: Santiago Paz of CEPICAFE debated
with other fair trade leaders on the future of the movement; he also
challenged all 760 conference participants, during a plenary discussion,
on the foundational goals of fair trade and the discrepancy between
those goals and the current reality of so many small-scale producers. Blanca Rosa Molina, producer member of UCA San Ramon (sub-coop of CECOCAFEN) in Nicaragua
spoke on a panel about how fair trade has impacted her community and
her fellow 
farmers. Martha Villareyna shared CECOCAFEN's experience in
building a strong and stable cooperative, despite the overwhelming
challenges for Latin American farming communities. Rigoberto Contreras
of MICHIZA (whose presence was made possibly by Catholic Relief Services)
and Monika Firl of Cooperative Coffees discussed the challenges and
rewards of creating and maintaining long-term, mutually beneficial
trading relationships.
We were able to continue these conversations in more depth with several of our partners a week later at our annual assembly in Madison. Hearing, first-hand, about the successes and shortcomings of fair trade was both eye-opening and inspiring in terms of the very apparent need for improvement. Over the last couple months and years, it has become increasingly evident that something needs to change -- fair trade as it is, just simply is not enough! Our commitment to include producers voices in our conversations about the direction of the movement as it affects and is guided by Coop Coffees challenges and invites us to take a stand in the current context.
During the weekend of the assembly, Policarpio of FECAFEB, Blanca
Rosa, and Santiago were invited to participate in an interview on a
community radio station (WORT 88.9 FM) in Madison. They each presented a
short glimpse into their realities as managers of coops and producers
of coffee within the fair trade context. To listen to the interview, go
to this link, and fast-forward about halfway into the program (or 30 minutes).
It was truly an honor and privilege to be able to hear the voices of a couple representatives from Latin America, Africa, and Asia. It was also a reminder that in any effort we make towards improving or changing the movement in which we all play a small but significant role, we must always work in close cooperation and collaboration with those who will be most affected by it: the small-scale producers and the cooperatives to which they belong.
Participants (CC partners): Santiago, manager of CEPICAFE; Blanca
Rosa, producer for UCA San Ramon; Martha Villareyna, manager of
CECOCAFEN; Policarpio Ali Cruz manager of FECAFEB; Rigoberto Diaz
commercial manager of MICHIZA.
