Coffee is among the most exploitative products traded on the international market today. This luxury beverage is attended in its regions of production with every conceivable form of oppression, environmental destruction, and economic exploitation. While companies like Starbucks reap massive profits, coffee farmers and plantation workers live on starvation wages. Sometimes not even that much.

TransFair USA is part of a worldwide movement certifying "Fair Trade" coffee (and eventually other products), which aim to assure a living wage to the producers while not making the product much more expensive for the consumer, by basically cutting out the often exploitative middlemen. TransFair is not a coffee vendor but rather a monitoring and certifying organization, assuring that products carrying TransFair's "Fair Trade" label were produced in an ecologically sustainable manner and purchased at a price allowing a living wage for its producers.

TransFair has recently completed an educational and promotional campaign in the Seattle area. Seattle was chosen both because oceans of coffee are consumed here and because of our world famous concern for economic justice.

Thanks to the hard work of TransFair's tireless local organizers, conscientious Seattle area connoisseurs can buy high quality Fair Trade coffee at the following cafes and groceries: (These stores and cafes carry at least one Fair Trade Certified coffee. However, many also offer non-Fair Trade varieties, so always ask for Fair Trade Certified coffee, and look for the label! It's your guarantee that farmers received a fair price).

Regional Chains: Albertson's, Safeway, Carr's, Seattle's Best Coffee, Fred Meyer, Starbucks, PCC Natural Markets, Trader Joe's, Quality Food Centers (QFC), and Tully's.

Independent Outlets:

Seattle: Ballard Market at 1400 NW 56th St., Bulldog News & Espresso at 4208 University Way NE, Greenwood Market at 8500 3rd Avenue NW, Madison Market at 1600 East Madison St., Mont's at 2350 24th Ave., Peace Cafe at 5828 Roosevelt NE, Seattle University Hawk's Nest/Collegia Programa, Still Life in Fremont at 709 N. 35th, Ten Thousand Villages at 6417 Roosevelt NE, University of Washington By George/Overpass Espresso, and Whole Foods at 1026 NE 64th. Shoreline: Central Market 15505 at Westminster Way N. Bainbridge Island: Town & Country Thriftway at 343 Winslow Way E. Edmonds: Java City at 21900 Highway 99. Olympia: Traditions Cafe & World Folk Art at 300 Fifth Ave. SW. Poulsbo: Central Market at 20148 10th Ave. Puyallup: Java City 201 at 37th Avenue SE.

For more information about "Fair Trade," or to find out how your favorite cafe can become part of the solution instead of remaining part of the problem of globalized exploitation, contact TransFair USA at www.transfairusa.org or 206-770-0990 (Seattle) or 510-663-5260 (Oakland).