Revaluing Peasant Coffee Production: Organic and Fair Trade Markets in Mexico
By Muriel Calo and Timothy Wise
This case study of coffee farmers in Oaxaca examines certification schemes and their affects on helping solve the coffee crisis for small-scale producers. How have organic, shade-grown, and/or Fair Trade certification helped or hindered Oaxacan farmers? The study concludes that organic certification generally fails to cover the increased costs of production; Fair Trade certification, however, "have been a lifeline for those able to gain access to this market." However, access to these markets is difficult, and returns are still low. Fair Trade certification is a good start, but "a more comprehensive approach to the problem is needed. This would involve changes in rural development policies at the national level...in addition to direct support programs."
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