We abide by these 4 basic principles for Direct Trade:
- A direct relationship. First and foremost, we believe strongly that a direct relationship must be established with the farmers themselves. The selection and price of our coffee is directly handled by the farmer, so by building up a genuine relationship, this allows us to guarantee a high quality coffee for our customers.
- Being transparent and above reproach. In a world where it is difficult to determine a business’s true motive, we strive to make Shaded Root as transparent and honest as possible. One example of these efforts is by having a complete knowledge on exactly how much money the farmer is receiving from our orders. We are currently purchasing our coffee above 40% Fair Trade’s minimum requirements.
- Quality control. By following the Direct Trade model, this allows us to have control over the quality of the coffee we provide to our customer’s.
- Visiting each farm. We feel that a truly direct relationship can only be established face to face. Because we are still in the beginning phases of our company, we have not yet had the opportunity to visit each farm, but it remains a top priority as we continue to grow.