Overview
• About CRS
• Why is CRS in the Coffee
Business?
• What is Fair Trade?
• How is CRS involved?
• How can I participate?
• Q&A
www.crsfairtrade.org
Making the Case for Fair Trade
www.crsfairtrade.org
What is CRS?
•Official relief & development
agency of the US Catholic
community
•Established in 1943 by the USCCB
•We provide support to people in
need in almost 100 countries
•95% of CRS’ expenditures go
directly to programs
•“Solidarity will transform the
world.”
www.crsfairtrade.org
THE FAIR TRADE MODEL
A Just Alternative
Fair Trade is a partnership
built on a network of
relationships that respect
PEOPLE, promote fair
business PRACTICES, and
protect the PLANET.
www.crsfairtrade.org
FAIR TRADE PRINCIPLES & Practices
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Opportunities for the
disadvantaged
Transparency & accountability
Building capacity &
Promoting the model
Paying fairly, good working
conditions, rights of children
Environmental stewardship
Cultural Identity
www.crsfairtrade.org
THE CRS Fair Trade Program Concept
•Connecting
disadvantaged
producers overseas
with Catholics in
the United States
www.crsfairtrade.org
CRS Partners
• CRS Fair Trade partners
donate a percentage of
all related sales to the
Fair Trade Fund. The
money in the Fund
helps artisans and
farmers with growth and
product development.
• There are 14 partners in
coffee, chocolate and crafts.
• SERRV, a nonprofit, is the
craft partner
• Divine Chocolate and Equal
Exchange sell chocolate
• The rest are coffee partners,
including two in Minnesota,
Peace Coffee and
Providence Coffee.
• You can purchase from
these partners too!
Why is CRS in the Coffee Business?
• U.S. coffee market =
$22 billion per year
• “Catholic coffee
market” = $5 billion
• Specialty coffee =
growing 20% per year
www.crsfairtrade.org
Fair Trade Fund Recycles $
• Each purchase = a
donation to the
Fund
• CRS has made
$700,000 worth of
grants since 2005
Nicaragua- marketing
www.crsfairtrade.org
Guatemala-Infrastructure
www.crsfairtrade.org
Bolivia-Coffee Quality
www.crsfairtrade.org
East Africa – Income Diversification
www.crsfairtrade.org
Latin America:
Coffee under pressure from climate change
www.crsfairtrade.org
CRS: Creating Connections
www.crsfairtrade.org
What happens when I
participate?
•Demonstrate concern
for the poor
•Act in solidarity
•Contribute to just
distribution of wealth,
value and power
•Practice stewardship
of creation
www.crsfairtrade.org
How can I get involved?
•Host a Work of Human
Hands Sale
•Buy Fair Trade products
•Join us on facebook
•Sign up for the Fair
Trader or Catholics
Confront Global Poverty
•Check out
www.crsfairtrade.org and
learn more
•Pray!
www.crsfairtrade.org