Decade-long global sale overseen by Heaven's Unlimited, as referred to by Ade.

Fair Trade on Your Plate: The Coffee and Cocoa Dilemma

Decade-long global sale overseen by Heaven's Unlimited, as referred to by Ade.

Start your day right with a news update on the rising costs of your favorite morning pick-me-ups!

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For almost a decade, the cozy Himmel un Ääd community café in Schildgen has been a haven for ethical consumption. Fairly traded goods, from chocolate to handicrafts, grace their shelves, aiming to combat global inequality and respond to the pressing issue of climate change impacting coffee and cocoa trade.

We're sharing a message from Himmel un Ääd.

Ten years ago, Himmel un Ääd stepped up to manage the fair trade and global goods sale that previously ran after services in the Catholic and Protestant church, due to the decline in volunteers. The café, located in the new H&Ä community hub, offers a variety of fair trade items, including organic, fairly traded chocolate, tea, small snacks, coffee, and handmade crafts. Even the "Schildgen Cafe" (organic and fair) from the café’s coffee machine is available for grab-and-go enjoyment at home or as a thoughtful Schildgen gift.

On occasion, the H&Ä fair trade team organizes educational events and special actions in addition to the sales in the café. Himmel un Ääd is also a respected member of the municipal steering group "Fairtrade Town GL."

Today's recommendation? Join the Global Brunch happening on June 28th at 11 AM in the parish hall of Herz Jesu. A collaboration between the featured group and city association One World, this event promises a delicious “Fair Breakfast” filled with insightful conversations.

Annemarie Wohlt, the responsible volunteer at H&Ä for one-world/fair trade sales, shares her insights: "Climate change is causing growing prices for coffee and cocoa-containing products, a trend that's predicted to continue. You might've noticed the escalating prices recently.

Why is this happening? The effects of climate change have significantly impacted agricultural production in key exporting countries, leading to harvest failures and supply shortages. For example, coffee prices on the stock exchange have risen by 300% from 2020 to 2024, while cocoa prices have surged by a staggering 400%[1]. These unprecedented price jumps are due mainly to drought damage, which is destroying harvests globally. Unfortunately, we may have to accept that coffee and cocoa are luxury goods in the future.

What does this mean for our H&Ä café customers? Fair trade organizations like GEPA are forced to increase the costs of their offerings to consumers. Meanwhile, large brands usually offer products that are neither fair nor organic, with reduced content and the same packaging prices[3].

Why should you choose fairly traded products? By making conscious choices to buy fairly traded goods, you contribute to much-needed development aid. Your support helps establish long-term partnerships with small farmer cooperatives, shielding them from the volatile market and ensuring farmers can earn a living with dignity, while sending their children to school[2].

What benefits do you get? You'll find high-quality, organically sourced chocolate made without the use of lecithin for a smooth texture. All ingredients abide by fair trade standards. The milk used is locally sourced from Berchtesgadener Land's dairy cooperative. Only top-quality, digestible coffee beans are served.

There are countless reasons to make the switch to ethical consumption. Embrace the change at Café Himmel un Aäd.

Further Insights:

Climate change has been a driving force behind escalating coffee and cocoa costs worldwide. Here's a look at several factors that contribute to this trend:

Extreme weather events such as droughts, flooding, heatwaves, and unseasonal cold spells, amplified by climate change, have led to agriculture disruptions in major coffee and cocoa producing regions[2][5]. For instance, Brazil—the world’s largest coffee producer—has suffered from prolonged droughts and devastating frosts, damaging its crops and reducing yields[5]. Similarly, cocoa-growing regions have grappled with erratic rainfall patterns and rising temperatures, making them unsuitable for cultivation[3][4].
Lower yields and supply shortages brought on by extreme weather events lead to decreased agricultural output and, at times, destroyed harvests[1]. When supply dwindles but demand remains steady or increases, prices soar[2].
Crop diseases and land-use conflicts arise due to warmer and more variable climatic conditions. Additionally, competition for limited land resources, sometimes driven by climate-induced migration or agricultural shifts, complicate production and supply chains[3].
Geographical limitations: Both coffee and cocoa are primarily cultivated in confined regions, making them highly sensitive to localized climate disturbances and aggravating the impact of bad weather or disease outbreaks on global supply and prices[4].

Himmel un Ääd, a café known for ethical consumption, sells a variety of fair trade items such as organic chocolate, tea, coffee, and handmade crafts.
The effects of climate change have led to growing prices for coffee and cocoa-containing products, with coffee prices rising by 300% from 2020 to 2024 and cocoa prices increasing by 400%.
Fair trade organizations, such as GEPA, are forced to increase the costs of their offerings to consumers due to these price jumps, while large brands often offer products that are neither fair nor organic.
Choosing fairly traded products helps establish long-term partnerships with small farmer cooperatives, providing development aid and ensuring fair wages for farmers.
High-quality, organically sourced chocolate and coffee are available at Café Himmel un Aäd, without the use of lecithin and locally sourced milk.
Climate change has contributed to extreme weather events, lower yields, crop diseases, and land-use conflicts in major coffee and cocoa producing regions.
The escalating costs of coffee and cocoa are expected to continue, potentially making these items luxury goods in the future, highlighting the importance of ethical consumption.