And such success can be replicated in coffee growing countries throughout the world and for other products, from bananas to tea. It can be replicated from Asia to Africa. It can make differences in people's lives immediately. Degradation of our natural resources is fundamentally an issue of people. Consequently and most importantly for environmental issues, fair trade focuses on assisting small farmers.
Small farmers help sustain our natural resources.
Small farmers plant shade grown coffee on small pieces of property dispersed throughout a region. Shade grown is better for birds than estate grown coffee. Small farmers are stewards of their own land and prevent the development of larger clear-cut estates. Benefits to the U.S. and its residents Fair trade benefits the U.S. in many ways. We are members of a world community.