Counter Culture Coffee is a company dedicated to sustainability and ethical sourcing practices. They believe in transparency, paying fair prices to producers, and supporting sustainable farming methods. This article explores Counter Culture Coffee’s commitment to fair trade and sustainability, drawing upon information from their website and transparency reports.
Key Facts
- Counter Culture Coffee has a program called Seeds that supports sustainability projects proposed by their producer partners around the globe.
- They set aside one penny from every pound of coffee sold throughout the year, and during the holiday season, they dedicate one full dollar for each pound of their Iridescent holiday blend to fund these projects.
- Counter Culture Coffee believes in transparency, including price transparency, as an indispensable tool and driver for their sustainability goals.
- They provide information about how much they paid for a coffee on every coffee product page, ensuring that the higher price consumers pay is directly related to the green cost.
- When reporting the price they paid for a pound of coffee, they quote the FOB (Free On Board) price, which is the amount paid to the exporter to get the coffee onto a boat for shipping.
- Counter Culture Coffee’s FOB price is directly comparable to the Fair Trade minimum and the C market (coffee commodity market) prices.
- They incur additional costs such as shipping, importing, warehousing, financing, equipment, labor, and packaging, which increase their actual cost per pound of coffee.
- The FOB price they report is almost always higher than what a farmer was paid, as it represents the sum of money paid to various entities involved in turning the raw coffee cherries into a specialty product ready for export.
Sustainability Initiatives
Counter Culture Coffee has a comprehensive approach to sustainability, encompassing various initiatives. One notable program is Seeds, which supports sustainability projects proposed by their producer partners worldwide. Through Seeds, Counter Culture Coffee allocates one penny from every pound of coffee sold throughout the year and dedicates one full dollar for each pound of their Iridescent holiday blend during the holiday season to fund these projects. These funds have supported initiatives such as building apiaries, providing literacy training to farmers, and bolstering food security through crop diversification.
Price Transparency
Counter Culture Coffee values transparency, including price transparency. They believe that providing information about the prices paid for coffee is crucial for promoting sustainability and ensuring fair compensation for producers. On every coffee product page, Counter Culture Coffee discloses the price they paid for the coffee, ensuring that the higher price consumers pay is directly related to the green cost.
FOB Pricing
When reporting the price paid for a pound of coffee, Counter Culture Coffee uses the FOB (Free On Board) price. FOB represents the amount paid to the exporter to transport the coffee onto a boat for shipping. This pricing method is directly comparable to the Fair Trade minimum and the C market (coffee commodity market) prices, allowing for transparent comparisons.
Additional Costs and Farmgate Price
Counter Culture Coffee’s actual cost per pound of coffee exceeds the FOB price due to additional expenses such as shipping, importing, warehousing, financing, equipment, labor, and packaging. Furthermore, the FOB price is typically higher than what a farmer receives, as it includes payments to various entities involved in the coffee’s journey from farm to export. Determining the exact farmgate price (the value captured at the farm) can be challenging due to factors such as installment payments to farmers, fluctuating currency exchange rates, and variations in yields.
Conclusion
Counter Culture Coffee’s commitment to fair trade and sustainability is evident in their initiatives, transparency practices, and pricing policies. By supporting sustainable farming methods, paying fair prices to producers, and providing transparent information about coffee prices, Counter Culture Coffee contributes to a more equitable and sustainable coffee industry.
Sources
- Counter Culture Coffee: Sustainability
- Price Transparency And The Value Of Coffee
- Sustainability – Product
FAQs
Is Counter Culture Coffee Fair Trade certified?
Counter Culture Coffee is not Fair Trade certified, but they have a comprehensive approach to sustainability and ethical sourcing that goes beyond Fair Trade certification. They pay above-market prices for their coffee, support sustainable farming practices, and provide transparent information about their supply chain and pricing.
How does Counter Culture Coffee ensure fair prices for producers?
Counter Culture Coffee pays above the “market price” for all their coffees. They also forward-contract as much coffee as possible before delivery, providing stability and transparency for both Counter Culture Coffee and their partners.
What is Counter Culture Coffee’s Seeds program?
The Seeds program supports sustainability projects proposed by Counter Culture Coffee’s producer partners around the globe. One penny from every pound of coffee sold throughout the year and one full dollar for each pound of their Iridescent holiday blend are set aside to fund these projects.
How does Counter Culture Coffee promote transparency in its pricing?
Counter Culture Coffee believes in price transparency as a driver for sustainability. They provide information about the price paid for a coffee on every coffee product page, ensuring that the higher price consumers pay is directly related to the green cost. They also use the FOB (Free On Board) price, which is directly comparable to the Fair Trade minimum and the C market (coffee commodity market) prices.
What are some of the challenges in determining the farmgate price of coffee?
Determining the exact farmgate price (the value captured at the farm) can be challenging due to factors such as installment payments to farmers, fluctuating currency exchange rates, and variations in yields.
How does Counter Culture Coffee support sustainable farming practices?
Counter Culture Coffee supports sustainable farming practices by paying premium prices for their coffee, providing feedback and encouragement to producers, and partnering with organizations like World Coffee Research to improve the climate resilience of coffee plants.
What is Counter Culture Coffee’s stance on organic and shade-grown coffee?
Counter Culture Coffee supports organic and shade-grown coffee as sustainable farming practices. However, they do not exclusively purchase organic or shade-grown coffee, as they believe that all coffee should be produced sustainably, regardless of certification.
How can consumers support Counter Culture Coffee’s sustainability efforts?
Consumers can support Counter Culture Coffee’s sustainability efforts by purchasing their coffee, learning more about their sustainability initiatives, and spreading the word about their commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainable practices.