If you're like me, you probably drink at least a quart of coffee each day! From freshly brewed, to iced, or even in coffee milkshakes, caffeine is my drug of choice. After a visit to Hawaii last year, I learned much more about fair trade coffee, also known as "free trade coffee." Now, I'm a convert, and I hope to convince you to go green with respect to your morning beverage too!

These days, its easy to enjoy sustainable coffee, without too much effort. In fact, if you are a customer of coffee giant Starbucks, you may even be part of the Starbucks Shared Planet program. It has three primary elements:

• ethical sourcing (100% of coffee offered at Starbucks is fair trade certified)
• environmental stewardship (raising awareness and taking responsibility for minimizing carbon footprints and slowing global climate change)
• community involvement (encouraging employees, partners and customers to join together to make a difference - for example, rebuilding New Orleans)

Sustainable coffee is grown on a farm that conserves resources, avoids the use of chemicals, protects the environment, and is efficient. As explained:

"Shade-grown coffee typically comes to mind for consumers wishing to purchase an ecologically sound cup of joe. The unique quality of shade-grown beans is that they are harvested from coffee plants grown under the canopy of native, tropical plants (coffee is a crop found in over 60 tropical countries). Organic coffee is another component of the “green” coffee choices on the market. In order to protect birds and fragile environments, fertilizers and pesticides are not used in growing organic coffee."

So what is fair trade coffee? While sustainable speaks to the way the coffee is grown, "free trade," or "fair trade" addresses the farming conditions and ability of coffee bean growers to reach and compete in the larger coffee market. The prime consideration for certification as "fair trade," is whether small farms are protected against the risk of getting squeezed out by big corporations. Among various factors considered include payment for the goods, and environmental protection measures.

October is Fair Trade Month in the United States.

As consumers in the developed world, it may be easy to overlook the hardships suffered by the people in the mostly third-world countries that plant, harvest and sell the beans that turn into our favorite cup of joe. You can help ensure that their working conditions are humane and also prevent the razing of delicate rainforests to feed our ever-increasing desire for more!

When you purchase coffee - either at the grocery store or at your local cafe, check the labels to ensure that the beans are Fair Trade certified, shade-grown and organic. This will help ensure the continued viability of the coffee industry and our planet for the rest of your days. C'mon! We're talking about a morning ritual! A small, educated change on your part can ensure that your descendants will continue to be caffeinated well after our time here on Earth.

Coffee plantations that are grown and tended without the use of harmful chemicals, and also in the shade - preventing deforestation - may require us to pay slightly more at the cash register, but the counterpart is a much more expensive proposition in the long run.

Of course, any business is going to be commercial. But by selecting fair trade certified coffee, you can boost the chances of small, local farmers in remote regions of the world to gain a fair paycheck for their hard, ecologically-sensitive work.

Be a smart consumer. Your marketplace decisions truly can make a difference!

Schools and other organizations are always looking for fundraising opportunities. Why not try the Equal Exchange Fair Trade Fundraising program? This is one charity that your friends and family will not mind supporting. Simply visit: www.equalexchange.coop/fundraiser.

Even if you do not drink coffee, Equal Exchange offers fair trade, organic products including tea and chocolate. Your fundraising efforts can be built around one or all of these goods. The fundraising coop is based in West Bridgewater, Mass., and has partnered with co-operatives of small-scale farmers who make their own decisions on business and community matters.

When you visit the Equal Exchange Website, take a look at its Guiding Principles:

• Trade directly with democratically organized small farmer cooperatives.
• Facilitate access to credit for producer organizations.
• Pay producers a guaranteed minimum price that provides a stable source of income as well as improved social services.
• Provide high quality food products.
• Support sustainable farming practices.
• Build a democratically-run cooperative workplace.
• Develop more environmentally-sound business practices.

Can you convert your morning beverage to fair trade coffee?  It shouldn't cost you much.  And just think of the boost you'll give small, local farmers, as well as the planet from your wise decision.

This school year, why not ask administrators and other leaders to consider Equal Exchange for a meaningful, smart investment in the future of your organization and many other people globally.