Fair Trade & Organic Cafés in NYC & Jersey City
» Why Fair Trade?
» Why Organic?
» Tea
» Coffee
Special thanks to Siel of Green LA Girl.
Why Fair Trade?
Advocates for fair trade believe that farmers should receive equitable compensation for their labors, i.e., what counts as a living wage in the country of their origin, instead of watching their hard-earned profits whisked away by predatory middlemen. By demanding fair-trade products, you’re leveraging your power as a consumer to push for better trading conditions and fair returns for marginalized producers and workers.
Sustainable, equitable trade, not aid, holds part of the answer to alleviating poverty in the developing world. (Learn more from Transfair USA, the only third-party certifier of fair-trade products in the U.S.)
How do you tell if something is fair trade? Look for this label of certification on the packaging, which means that the product complies with the economic, social, and environmental criteria as laid out by Transfair USA. Note that the label applies to the product itself and not the entire brand or company. For example, is Starbucks’ Cafe Estima blend fair trade? Yes, it is, indeedy. Is the rest of Starbucks’ coffee fair trade, as well? Not on your life.
Why Organic?
When something is labelled “organic,” it means it was produced using methods and materials that have low impact on both the environment and human health. When a product is certified organic, you have the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) assurance that it was grown and handled according to strict procedures without pesticides or other toxic and persistent chemicals. (Learn more from Organic.org and the Organic Trade Association.)
Look for this label to ensure that your product does not contain any genetically modified material, and was grown using composted manure and other natural materials instead of synthetic fertilizers. Not only does organic agriculture reduce the toxic burden we’re placing on the ground, air, water, and food supply, it also cuts down on our overall exposure to hazardous chemicals that have been linked to cancer, reproductive disorders, immune system suppression, nervous system damage, and disruption of hormonal systems.
Tea
Bluestockings Books Fair Trade Café
172 Allen St.
New York, NY 10002
212-777-6028
www.bluestockings.com
Serendipitea
32-29 Greenpoint Avenue
Long Island City, NY 11101
888-832-5433
www.serendipitea.com
Based in Queens, but mail-order/wholesale only. Great selection of organic and fair-trade teas, though.
Sympathy for the Kettle
109 St. Marks Place
New York, NY 10009
212-979-1650
www.sympathyforthekettle.com
Not all its teas are fair trade and organic, and the ones that are aren’t specified on the menu. So you don’t have to squint for the fair-trade label on their giant tea canisters, here’s a list you can take with you:
1. Organic Fair Trade Earl Grey
2. Organic Fair Trade Golden Yunnan
3. Organic Fair Trade Gunpowder
4. Organic Fair Trade Herbal Chai Rooibos
5. Organic Fair Trade Loose Leaf Pu-erh
6. Organic Fair Trade Orange Chai
7. Organic Fair Trade Pu-erh Ginger
8. Organic Fair Trade Yunnan Lily
Coffee
Abraço
86 E. 7th St. (Near 1st Ave.)
New York, NY 10003
212-388-9731
BaGua Juice
364 Grove St.
Jersey City, NJ 07302
201-963-7676
www.baguajuice.com
Mainly a juice bar, but it also serves the triple-certified (organic, fair trade, shade-grown) Caffe Ibis.
Beechwood Café & Market
290 Grove St.
Jersey City, NJ 07302
201-985-2811
www.beechwoodcafe.com
It brews Equal Exchange coffee. (You can buy bags to take home, too.)
Bluestockings Books Fair Trade Café
172 Allen St.
New York, NY 10002
212-777-6028
www.bluestockings.com
Cafe Notte
1626 2nd Ave. (between 84th and 85th St.)
New York, NY 10028
212-288-5203
cafenotte.moonfruit.com
Gorilla Coffee
97 Fifth Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-230-3243
www.gorillacoffee.com
All its coffee is 100 percent fair trade and organic, and roasted on site.
Grounded
28 Jane Street
New York, NY 10014
212-647-0943
Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee
138 W. 10th St. (between Greenwich Ave. and Waverly Place)
New York, NY 10014
212-929-0821
www.jacksstirbrew.com
Karen’s On Astor
One Astor Place
New York NY 10002
212-533-6700
Subtletea
121 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10016
212-481-4713
You can get organic, fair-trade java by the NJ-based Kobricks Coffee.
Think Coffee
248 Mercer St.
New York, NY 10012
212-228-6226
www.thinkcoffeenyc.com
Vox Pop
1022 Cortelyou Rd.
Brooklyn, NY 11218
718-940-2084
www.voxpop.net
Cafe Warma
442B Lorimer St.
Brooklyn, NY 11206
718-963-2003
www.warmacafe.com
