Fair Trade: Conversation with Daniel Jaffee

[dsjaffee]

Hello Ron,

Thanks very much for suggesting this dialogue on fair trade.
I look forward to seeing how the discussion unfolds!

Dan

[planeta]

Thank you, Dan.

We appreciate your time and interest in participating in this online Q&A.

For starters, could you briefly describe your background and interest in fair trade? And can you summarize the key argument of your book?

[planeta]

Good news. A review copy of your book arrived!
http://www.planeta.com/newtitles.html

[planeta]

Thanks, Daniel. Now that I have read your book, I have a better understanding of how you approach these issues. The writing is first-rate.

You spent considerable time in Oaxaca and witnessed first-hand how the fluctuations in coffee prices affected rural communities. In Oaxaca City we see the growth of a number of cafes -- http://oaxaca.wikispaces.com/cafe -- some of which work with small-scale producers. Do you have any suggestions on what consumers in Oaxaca should look for or what consumers outside Mexico should look for when buying coffee from Oaxaca?

Also, do you have any suggestions about how businesses in Mexico could improve their linkages to rural communities?