BUTLER TWP — The smooth flavor of fairly traded coffee has become a mission for the outreach committee at Christ Community United Methodist Church. Though not a coffee drinker herself, outreach committee coordinator Brenda Cole has realized that good can be found at the bottom of a cup of fairly traded brew.

"While researching the horrors that happened in Darfur, Africa, I stumbled upon some information about fairly traded coffee and the benefits of it for the farmers who barely make a living," said Cole of the region's civil strife in the 1980s.

"As a parent, the suffering of another child or family simply breaks my heart, and if something as easy as changing your coffee-buying practices can raise awareness, then I was willing to implement this program at our church," she added.

With fairly traded coffee, buyers purchase coffee beans directly from farmer cooperatives for a guaranteed minimum price above market prices.

The idea is that with farmers earning that price — currently $1.26 per pound of conventionally grown beans and $1.41 for organic — they can improve their standard of living. Farmers not participating in fair trade co-ops currently receive 50 or 60 cents per pound, said Rodney North, a worker-owner at Equal Exchange, which provides wholesale coffee to the church.

"A farmer that has 1,000 pounds of coffee is in no position to be an exporter," said North. "But when 100 or 500 such farmers come together, then they are in a position to create a business they own and control and to achieve a scale where they can process and export their own coffee."

North said the extra income allows farmers to pay for medical care, school and clothing for their children and upkeep on their farms.

Forming cooperatives also allows farmers to democratize rather than rely on one hacienda for work, North noted.

Coffee is the world's second-largest traded commodity after oil. The United States, the largest coffee importer, consumes a fifth of the total coffee worldwide. A large percentage of the fairly traded coffee is grown organically, North said — largely because consumers interested in social causes often choose to promote sustainable agriculture as well.

Cole purchases the coffee for Christ Community's program directly from Equal Exchange, which buys about 3 million pounds of fair-trade coffee each year. The coffee is then sold in more than 1,000 U.S. grocery stores and co-ops.

"Basically, the coffee beans are purchased in these Third World countries, then shipped and processed in the states. The goal of the farmers is that through this program they will be able to eventually process their own products," said Cole.

To ensure the fair trade status is legitimate, the farms are monitored by The Fair Trade Labeling Organization, or FLO, and TransFair USA, which, ensures the products labeled as fairly traded are authentic.

Equal Exchange currently works with more than 28 small farmer organizations in 14 developing countries. The company also has formal agreements with eight religious denominations, North said.

Regular auto-drip coffee runs about $7.25 per 12 ounce bag, while decaffeinated coffee runs about $7.75, depending on the brand purchased. Whole beans and several varieties from many countries are available through Equal Exchange, which can also be purchased through Cole.

"While you may pay a bit more per pound, just the thought of the money going to a better way of life for someone else makes it worth it," said Cole.

Cole also stocks several varieties of chocolate bars and hot cocoa. She has made gift baskets, which range from $12 to $15, with products that are all from fairly traded farm co-ops.

Christ Community adds a few cents per purchase in order to raise funds for their mission programs, one of which will bring in The Lost Boys of the Sudan, who raise awareness of the practice of genocide that plagues countries across the globe.

The Rev. Oden Warman noted it is small change for a good cause.

"We've had a fellowship hour where coffee is served anyway. With Brenda's help we've changed that into an opportunity for missions," he said.

"We now only serve the fairly traded brands and have posters and signs on the walls about the coffee and the program. We make it available for people to buy each week," said Warman, who first heard about fairly traded coffee at the United Methodist Conference this summer.

"There was a mission station at the conference that expressed how coffee can be a win-win situation," he said. "It didn't take much convincing for our church to get on board with the project," he added.

According to Equal Exchange, monies from the sales of fairly traded coffee have been spent on training programs for women in Guatemala, an eco-tourism project in Nicaragua and new classrooms in El Salvador.

"Since we are involved in purchasing, we can accommodate others' requests as far as buying coffee, hot cocoa and the wonderful chocolate bars," said Cole.

"Currently we only purchase the Colombian coffee and everyone seems to like it. I can't seem to keep the hot chocolate in stock," she added.

The church, located at 205 North Duffy Road, is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.