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. And like any community, by building and supporting systems that strengthen our less fortunate neighbors, we strengthen the viability of the whole community. Improved North South economic interactions and United States consumer awareness in grower conditions and trade inequities helps reinforce our understanding of the interconnectedness of the global economy.