If you research this issue online, you will see a very long list of articles about this issue!
If you are concerned about whether or not your coffee purchases are supporting the exploitation of farmers, children, and in some cases victims of human trafficking, do an online search and enter the business name and brand of the coffee you drink along with the word exploitation.
It’s important to note that many “mom & pop” coffee brands are perceived to be more concerned about exploitation. While that's often the case, many smaller businesses have also been bought out by larger companies who have been allegedly guilty (directly or indirectly) of exploitation. So you’ll want to make sure you don’t make any assumptions about smaller coffee brands and that your research is thorough.
At FIGHT COFFEE, we are committed to sourcing our coffee from roasters who care about this issue. For example, our Rwandan beans are roasted by a company whose founder is from Rwanda and personally knows the farmers!
Below is a very small sample of articles about the issue of exploitation in the coffee industry.
There Could be Labor Exploitation in Your Coffee Cup: Here’s How It Got There
Addressing Child Labor and Forced Labor in the Coffee Supply Chain in Honduras [.gov]