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UUSC Coffee Project
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Linking UUs with small farmers and their families through fair trade
The UUSC Coffee Project is a collaboration between UUSC and Equal Exchange, a worker-owned, fair trade company based in West Bridgewater, Mass.
Through the Coffee Project, UUSC supporters can buy fair trade coffee, tea, sugar, chocolate bars, and other tasty treats in bulk for their social action groups or in their congregations, schools, and communities.
Equal Exchange sources these goods directly from farmer cooperatives, following the standards and principles of fair trade on 100 percent of its products. This ensures that farmers earn a fair price for their crops, allowing them to better meet their families' basic needs for food, education, and health care — and their long-term security.
About 500 congregations — nearly 50 percent of all UU congregations — now participate in The UUSC Coffee Project, offering hope to small farmers at a critical time. In 2008 alone, Unitarian Univeralists purchased 45.3 tons of fairly traded products through the UUSC Coffee Project. UUs have the highest participation rate of any denomination in Equal Exchange's Interfaith Program.
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With support from the fund, our partner Manos Campesinos was able to offer women training programs in leadership, and CESMACH was able to take concrete steps to protect their environment. |
How to participate in the UUSC Coffee Project
The UUSC Coffee Project is a way for your group or congregation to learn about fair trade and express your values through informed consumer choices. There are many ways your community can become involved in the UUSC Coffee Project, support the Small Farmer Fund, and join the movement for an alternative economy. You can:
- Order Equal Exchange coffee for your coffee hour.
- Purchase Equal Exchange treats in bulk to sell during community and congregation to raise funds for your group.
- Promote fair trade in your congregation.
- Join the movement for an alternative economy.
If you would like to help your congregation participate, there are congregational committees (such as your Social Action or youth network) that may sponsor this project. Then, as your congregation enjoys delicious fair trade coffee, members and visitors alike can take time to learn more about the people who produce these foods.
Buy fair trade goods from Equal Exchange!
- Online at the Equal Exchange Interfaith Store
for individual (retail) AND congregations/groups (wholesale)
- Mail or fax: Fair Trade Products Order Form [PDF]
for congregations/groups (wholesale) orders ONLY
Learn More about the Coffee Project
- Frequently Asked Questions
- "Live the Seven Principles by Supporting Fair Trade" brochure
- Coffee Project Handout
- Coffee Project Brochure
- We would love to hear from you! Take the UUSC Coffee Project Survey.
Featured Stories about the UUSC Coffee Project
 Since the UUSC Coffee Project was launched in 2001, hundreds of UU congregations have made the initiative a huge success. In 2008 alone, UUs purchased 45.3 tons of fairly traded products; since 2001, well over 250 tons.
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 Video highlighting SAAC, a pecan
cooperative in Georgia that produces shelled pecans and pecan
candies for sale through fair trade.
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