An Ethical Cup of Joe

Along with screwing in compact fluorescent bulbs and lacing up running shoes made solely in factories following fair labor practices, a growing number of socially conscious Americans are drinking “Fair Trade” coffee, hoping to improve the lot of farmers around the world. While there is little doubt that Fair Trade coffee has improved living standards for many growers, there is a “disconnect between promotional materials and reality,” writes Jeremy Weber, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.