DeKALB – When you choose your morning cuppa joe, you probably do not consider how you are impacting the way companies do business or if those who work on the other side of the planet to produce your beverage are being paid a fair wage.

But maybe you should give it a second thought. Coffee is the largest U.S. food import, and the second most-traded commodity after petroleum.

Non-fair trade companies are known to exploit farmers and children for labor while depleting the land on which the coffee is grown in order to maximize profit. In contrast, fair trade companies must adhere to sustainable ecological agriculture practices, which include reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, preventing erosion and protecting forests. This ensures that the land will be usable for farming in the future.