Equal Exchange Coffee

Equal Exchange is an example of a company going the extra mile to ensure farmers are fairly compensated for their product.  They promote the idea of the "citizen-consumer", which entails each of us being mindful about the impact of the products we buy and the companies we support. 

From Equal Exchange Co-President:

"We now know that we cannot possibly succeed in our goal to transform the food system without the active, deep and committed participation of citizen-consumers like you. An authentic Fair Trade system requires democratic organizing of producers in the South, worker democracy for businesses in the North, and active citizen involvement in the North."

Be sure to check out their website for full details on their mission and how you can get involved.  This is a great mission statement for any coffee company or consumer to be aware of.  These are issues that pertain to the wider food and farming industry as well, not just the coffee industry.  Equal Exchange also sell cocoa and chocolate which are ethically sourced and produced.  Check out their chocolate offerings here.  My personal favorite is the Organic Dark Chocolate Mint Crunch bar.  Notice how in the description they list where each of the ingredients come from.  

Their blog is a wealth of information, and they produce a podcast which highlights different companies and individuals involved in this work.  Check out the podcast here!