Hi Andrew,
Thanks for this posting. My family were farmers for many generations. Even in North America the farmer receives a fraction of the wealth generated by his or her own work. Corporations set the prices and skim off the top. When you consider how little the farmer or coffee grower in South America or Africa receives when you see the price of a latte at Starbucks, then I must confess to feeling outrage.
I would prefer to pay the Fair trade higher price (for good coffee as well) with the knowledge that the person producing it is actually receiving compensation that he can raise his family and live.
I think Andrew once said in North America we have won the lottery, and lottery winners usually share their winnings with others!
Pax. Pat
