October is Fair Trade Month, and we’re taking the opportunity to look at what Fair Trade means to us—and the impact it can have for coffee farmers and their communities.
At Colectivo, responsible sourcing has always been an important part of how we approach coffee. We build long-term relationships with producers and cooperatives and look for ways to support the people who grow the coffee we roast.
In 2025, $257,286 in Fair Trade Community Development Funds were generated through our Fair Trade coffee purchases. These funds support projects chosen by participating farmers and their communities.
What Is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade is a global movement made up of farmers, workers, businesses and other organizations working towards more ethical and sustainable trade practices.
Fair Trade certification provides a set of standards for how products are sourced and traded. Fair Trade USA is the nonprofit organization behind the model that drives the initiative behind improving livelihoods and protecting the environment.
When you see the Fair Trade Certified label on a bag of coffee, it represents a set of standards that producers and businesses agree to follow.
But certification is about more than a label. One of the key parts of the Fair Trade model is the Fair Trade Premium, which helps fund community projects at origin.
What Is the Fair Trade Premium?
Fair Trade Premium funds are an additional amount paid by Fair Trade industry and brand partners. The money goes into a Community Development Fund at origin that is controlled by the participating farmers—the people who receive these funds decide how they should be used.
Producer groups form committees, assess the needs of their communities and vote on projects they believe will have the greatest impact. That can mean investing in better farming practices, improving infrastructure, supporting education or responding to an unexpected crisis.
The priorities are different from one community to the next because the people making the decisions know what their communities need most.
Supporting Farmers After Floods and Landslides
In November 2025, farmers with the Koperasi Produsen Putra Tani Berkarya cooperative experienced devastating floods and landslides in their region.
The disaster damaged local roads and water systems—creating unexpected challenges for coffee farmers.
The cooperative used its Fair Trade democratic systems and Community Development Funds to organize support for the affected communities. Part of that work focused on helping farmers begin planting again.
Each farmer received 40 coffee seedlings to help restart coffee production on the land that remained. Community Development Funds also helped cover operational costs, allowing the cooperative to continue its work during the crisis.
It’s one example of how Fair Trade funds can give communities resources to respond to challenges when they need them most.
Investing in Better Coffee Production
Community Development Funds can also be used for projects that strengthen coffee production over the long term.
The Cafetalera Aprocassi cooperative used its funds to support productivity and quality initiatives. The cooperative hired trained technical professionals to work with producers on farm management and certification.
They also used their funds to support plot renewal, waste management and improvements to the cooperative’s financial structure. These investments can help farmers improve their farms and strengthen the cooperative as a whole.
Shop Fair Trade Certified Coffee
We’re proud to offer a range of Fair Trade Certified coffees, including longtime favorites and coffees from producer partners we’ve worked with for years!