Supporting Fair Trade With Green Mountain Coffee {Giveaway!}

Rachel Callahan

Updated on Categories Giveaways and Contests 208 Comments

My Keurig® changed my life.

Okay maybe not my entire life, but at least the first few hours of my days. I love the ease, the speed, and the variety with which it provides me life-giving coffee.

And, with regards to the variety, I might be a bit over-the-edge OCD. In fact, my husband measures my sanity by the current state of the K-Cup Carousel.

I’ve been training the kids on refilling it, justifying their labor as critical thinking education due to all of my rules and regulations.

IMG_0885

(Preferably, there should be no repeats of flavors on a single side of the carousel. If a repeat is necessary, the pair cannot be touching unless there are more than two of the same flavor, in which case they should be lined up together to indicate an Intent to Repeat.)

(Perhaps OCD isn’t a strong enough term.)

One of the brands of coffee that we enjoy is Green Mountain Coffee®. They have fantastic flavors including the always anticipated Pumpkin Spice, and they have just released their new Fair trade Certified™ Three Continent Blend

I learned a lot about Fair Trade when researching artisan chocolate, and the same principles apply to coffee. Most family coffee farmers live in remote locations and lack access to credit, so they are vulnerable to middlemen who offer cash for their coffee at a fraction of its value. Fair Trade assures coffee farmers a fair price for unroasted green coffee. Fair Trade also links farmers directly with Fair Trade roasters like Green Mountain Coffee®, creating long-term sustainability.

I love the idea that my eating and drinking choices can help change the lives of families in countries that are not as fortunate, and that by being conscientious about the products that I buy I can help turn the tide to fairness in international commerce. It makes coffee and chocolate taste so much better when you can think of your consumption as a bit humanitarian.

In celebration of Fair Trade Month this October, Green Mountain Coffee® is introducing Fair Trade Certified™ Three Continent Blend, which combines the flavors and aromas of three continents in one harmonious Extra Bold blend. My kids can’t wait to have another flavor to figure out how to fit in my carousel schematics.

So I’m guessing you’d love a Keurig® Brewing System and Green Mountain Coffee too, right?? For a chance to win a Keurig® Brewing System and a Green Mountain Coffee® gift basket, please comment on this post with an answer to the question: Are you a coffee drinker, and if so, would you consider buying fair trade coffee?

Sweepstakes Rules:

No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post,
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post,
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winner will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 09/18/13-10/31/13.
Best of luck!!

Author

208 thoughts on “Supporting Fair Trade With Green Mountain Coffee {Giveaway!}”

  1. Am I a coffee drinker? Are you kidding? I got it honestly through my mom, but she drinks it black (with occasional exceptions) whereas I must have at least a splash of milk or a teaspoon of sugar — preferably both.

    I already buy fair trade coffee as often as I can, because I think coffee tastes better when you know the farmer who grew it got a living wage.

    Reply

  2. I only buy fair trade, preferably organic. I miss my keurig. When it died, we just never replaced it because at the time, we didn’t have any extra money. But i think its time, when they have sales before Christmas :)

    Reply

  3. My husband and I are huge coffee drinkers! I even made him a coffee themed gift basket for his birthday this year! We drink fair trade coffee (usually Green Mountain K-cups) and always look for it when purchasing.

    Reply

  4. I am not a coffee drinker, although I love to smell it! I would purchase “fair trade” coffee for my kids, who are avid coffee drinkers. I do prefer a small sip every once in a while as long as it has enough sugar, flavored creamer, whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle in it.

    Reply

  5. I will be a second time mom, after a 9 year age gap, this December. I miss coffee so much, and I sure could use an easy cup!

    Reply

  7. I love coffee! I also love trying new flavors and brands. I would absolutely consider buying fair trade. I usually only look for the flavor when making my selection, but now I will also look for fair trade coffees!

    Reply

  8. Am I a coffee drinker? heck yeah, my family accuses me of being a coffee snob. I am very very picky about which coffee I buy. Would I buy fair trade? If it’s a dark enough roast then yes I would, that’s the biggest issue I have with so many brands, they taste like watered down scorched crap. make a strong enough one and I’ll gladly buy it!

    Reply

  9. Coffee, aka, “Sweet nectar of Ambrosia”… oh how I would love to just have a helmet mounted with continuous drips of the liquid gold trickling through my veins at all times. And Fair Trade coffee is just that much sweeter by returning the giving of life. to the coffee growing communities.

    So yes, I am an avid coffee drinker.
    And yes, I would consider buying Fair Trade.

    Reply

  12. My family LOVES our Keurig®, although each for different reasons. My husband loves the idea of a different coffee (given that I have bought it) at any given time whenever he wants it. My daughter thinks that this is the only way to make hot chocolate. My son is our most discerning user. He will only drink certain brands and certain flavors. At 9 he feels that he has sampled enough to be picky about what is out there.
    I have already fully trained him to keep the water at an appropriate level and how to change out the pods for his and his sister’s early morning drink as we dress and I take them to their grandmother’s.
    The love of the ‘drink’ has taken away the obsession to gather the correct My Little Ponies or Lego men to make it through the hours that we spend away from home. Now, I will be checking his favorite brand to see if they are “Fair Trade”.

    Reply

  13. Ah, coffee…. just its aroma puts me in a happy place in the morning. And I have purchased fair trade coffee. It makes economic sense to make sure the grower gets his due. I was spoiled by the Keurig at my school and miss the convenience now that I’m retired.

    Reply

  14. I am a coffee drinker! I wasn’t, up until this year. My coworker (and now, one of my best friends!) introduced me to it, and now, I’m addicted!!

    I would buy Fair Trade Coffee. I love the idea of helping farmers with my purchases. Let’s be honest: Starbucks really doesn’t need any more of my money!! :)

    Reply

  15. I am a coffee drinker, but I’m the only one in the household who does! I am also a tea drinker & so its hard to make sure my tea doesn’t get contaminated with the flavor of coffee (because I’m OCD, too!). Right now i have a coffee maker that is only for making hot water & then I use a french press to make it coffee or a Perfect Tea Maker (from Teavana!) to make tea with it. It’s such a pain & it’s hard to keep guests from making coffee in my coffee pot! It would be so nice to just have a Keurig, but right now it’s just not in the budget. (We moved & my husband took a significant pay cut so he could work closer to 40 hours a week instead of 70!). :) We love it, but there’s no room in the budget for extras! One thing I do is save up Swagbucks to buy my coffee on Amazon so switching to KCups would be so simple! :) I already buy fair trade & love Green Mountain coffee!

    Reply

  17. I’m not a super big coffee drinker – it needs to have lots of yummy stuff in it to mask the coffee flavor. But I would love a Keurig just for the hot chocolate and maybe I would find a coffee flavor that works for me!

    Reply

  21. I love coffee and I love the convenience of a Keurig, although mine is a little worse for wear and really needs to be replaced.

    I always try to buy fair trade coffee whenever I can.

    Reply

  23. I’d love to buy fair trade everything if I could. Luckily I don’t have to make up my mind for a while because I won 8 bags of Seattle’s Best not too long ago, so we’re plenty stocked.

    Reply

  24. We have a Keurig stocked with Green Mountain coffee at work. It is possibly the hardest working thing here. :) I’d love one for home too.

    Reply

  28. I am definitely a coffee drinker and would buy free trade coffee. I’d love to support more free trade brands.

    I love the Green Mountain Caramel Vanilla Cream and Dark Magic.

    Reply

  30. I don’t bleed blood, I’m MADE of coffee!(: Especially coffee that doesn’t taste like coffee, (i.e. LOTS of sugar and creamer!(: and then some more). You know what would be great? A pool of coffee… but one that wouldn’t burn you. It’d be like a spa, but you could also drink it too. That would be yummy!

    Reply

  31. I’ve found myself wishing I was a coffee drinker lately. I really need something to perk me up in the mornings and since we’ve cut back on pop I am sorely lacking in the caffeine area. But there’s no way I can drink coffee. I don’t even like the smell although I’ve gotten a lot better than I used to be when I HATED the smell. We are thinking about getting my mother-in-law a Keurig for Christmas. She would love it. She drinks at least two pots of coffee when she spends the night here (the only time we ever use our coffee pot).

    P.S. I’ve never quite understood Fair trade but that was a great way of explaining it! Is that on all food or just coffee and chocolate?

    Reply

  33. Absolutely, a coffee drinker. I must have my two cups of coffee in the morning, so much so that I wake up before the family to enjoy the first and get my go-go on before they start going! ;) Mom-life! I would love to buy fair trade coffee! Thanks!

    Reply

  36. “Oh I can’t stop drinking the coffee, I stop drinking the coffee, I stop doing the standing and the walking and the words putting into sentence doing.” ~Lorelai Gilmore I have wanted a Keurig for forever, but I haven’t been able to give up the vats of coffee necessary to make it through the day. It would be great for a single cup in the afternoon though or for when I have guests who prefer the unleaded version. We do buy fair trade.
    That’s my comment, and here’s my tweet as well:

    I want to win this Keurig.#SweepstakesEntry http://t.co/D1G7QRSufX— Troye Stadler (@injoytroye) September 19, 2013

    Reply

  37. Great giveaway! I am a Starbucks girl myself, because I love the dark, smoky flavor. I wonder if I could find something similar that’s Fair Trade? Thanks for the idea!

    Reply

  39. I am definitely a coffee drinker: 2 toddlers and a baby on the way? YES please! And currently I buy our Fair Trade coffee at Target, but I’d LOVE to find a new brand!

    Reply

  42. I love coffee! Especially my first cup of the day. I would definitely consider buying fair trade coffee. Thanks for shining the light on this topic.

    Reply

  46. I have never drank a cup in my life, but considering I have been soda free for a month, I will probably need to get my caffeine from somewhere. No better time to try it out!

    Reply

  47. I drink coffee every morning and afternoon that I can get my grubby hands on it. With creamer, of course. I would be happy to drink fair trade coffees and would be interested to find out how to know what is fair trade and what isn’t.

    Reply

  48. I am becoming a coffee convert. I had a cheap single serving machine and it became obsolete. :( I would definitely consider buying free trade coffee, especially if it were reasonably priced.

    Reply

  49. I am a coffee drinker and I would love to buy fair trade coffee. I’d like to know more about how to find it in a store near me!

    Reply

  51. I love coffee, and yes, I’d consider fair trade coffee., sounds like an easy way to make a small difference in the world.

    Reply

  52. Being the only coffee drinker in my family, I’ve often considered that a Keurig may be a good option! My friend and I sometimes buy bulk quantities of fair trade coffee beans and split them amongst ourselves.

    Reply

  53. Srsly love coffee! I’ve been trying to buy fair trade recently after hearing a piece on NPR about how much fair trade has improved the lives of coffee growers. And I dream of a Keurig!

    Reply

  54. Perhaps I need to research more, but I have been under impression that fair trade, while a noble idea, is less than effective and in some cases, actively harmful.

    Reply

  58. I am a coffee drinker, although mostly in the middle of the day. You know, to keep me going to the end of the day!

    I do sometimes buy fair trade coffee and would buy more!

    Reply

  59. I have never tried Fair Trade cofee, but I am going to get some at the store and tru it soon! Thanks for this wonderful giveaway!

    Reply

  61. Definitely a coffee drinker and definitely didn’t know about fair trade coffee and will be looking into it from now on.

    Reply

  63. How awesome! I am a year round “any kind of hot beverage” drinker. Coffee, tea, chai, etc. And I LOVE fair trade stuff.

    Reply

  64. I try to only buy fair trade organic shade grown coffee. It makes me feel better about drinking so much of it. Of course I live in San Francisco so if you are seen with anything less, there are looks of scorn and pity. I don’t own a Keurig, but my college roommate did and I thought is took up too much counter space. To be fair we had tiny counters though.

    Reply

  65. Rachel – my love of coffee ranks right up there with my love for Jesus!!! He wakes me in the morning and then my coffee wakes me as well. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Keurig….while before, a full pot went to waste because I would normally drink as much as I could before leaving for work, my Keurig saved me by allowing me to only make for ME!!! Now, I also love the teas that are available and my boyfriend / hubs loves the hot chocolates….he’s not a coffee drinker! Never has been, never will be….but alas, true love was achieved when I met and fell in love with my Keurig!!!

    Reply

  66. I love my French Vanilla creamer with a splash of coffee! Just kidding… but I really do use about 1 part creamer to 3 parts coffee. YUM! I didn’t know what Fair Trade was until I read this, and now I’m definitely going to pay more attention to what I buy.

    PS – pick me for the Keurig! It’s Pumpkin Spice time :-)

    Reply

  68. I am a huge coffee drinker, some may even say a coffee snob. I haven’t gone down the road of the Keurig just yet. My husband makes my coffee every morning perfectly. He is out of town this week and I attempted to make my own coffee. I ended up with a counter full of water leaking from the machine. Not sure how to even work the thing from here on out. So, I am resorting to the Tim Horton’s gift card he gave me for such an emergency. I think a Keurig would be a fantastic addition to our kitchen! And yes, I would buy fair trade coffee. I have also looked for Shade grown beans as well, but that is particularly hard to find.

    Reply

  69. My day always starts with coffee, but I didn’t start drinking it until I was close to 40.

    I have been feeling like I need to make the switch to both fair-trade coffee and chocolate. (Now that you have posted this, that’s probably why I found your blog in the first place….)

    Reply

  70. I’m actually not a coffee drinker. Like, not at all. In fact, I find it gross. I am, however, married to a hunky coffee drinker who would love for me to win this. I also feel awful when we have guests and all I offer them is instant coffee. Apparently, that’s gross.

    Reply

  71. I am an occasional coffee drinker but I would definitely opt for Fair Trade coffee if purchasing in the supermarket.

    Reply

  73. I am not a coffee drinker, though I enjoy an occasional cup now and then. However, my husband, daughter, in-laws, etc, absolutely adore coffee. I have never tried Fair Trade coffee, but I’ve heard people rave about it. Would love to give it a shot!

    Reply

  74. I’ve been drinking coffee as long as I can remember. I’ve never been known to turn down a cup that is offered to me :)
    Though I have not bought fair trade coffee yet, I’d like to to give it a try!

    Reply

  77. I’m a huge coffee drinker! In fact, some of my favorite k-cups are Green Mountain Coffee :) Also, I don’t exactly know what in the world I would do without my Keurig. I drink lots of coffee and I also use it for hot tea, too. I have a lot of tea left over before I entered the k-cup world so a lot of the time I just don’t put a cup in and get a perfect cup of hot water to make any tea I want. I seriously LOVE it. As for the Fair Trade Coffee, I had no idea. I just thought it was some marketing ploy, and I’m very glad you’ve brought this to my attention. From now on, I will only buy Fair Trade coffee!

    Reply

  78. Yes, I am a coffee drinker. And I am surprised I have not ever heard of fair trade coffee. I would love to support them and I would love a keurig!

    Reply

  79. I am a coffee drinker and I’ve bought fair trade coffee in the past. I don’t buy it exclusively but I feel like I’m helping others when I do buy it!

    Reply

  81. Oh am I ever a coffee drinker, 2 to 3 cups every morning lol! I think I have heard of fair trade coffee before and would love to support them

    Reply

  83. 16 years of marriage and he never allowed me to drink coffee in my home. Divorced now and loving a fresh cup whenever I want one. A kuerig would change my life and I always shop fair trade.

    Reply

  85. I am a coffee drinker and would definitely consider buying free-trade. Not sure if Starbucks has it but I will definitely check out Green Mountain :)

    Reply

  87. I try to buy fair trade coffee but sometimes I just can’t of afford it. that’s the same reason why I don’t have a Kerig yet. But I am saving so maybe in the next year or so…. Thank you for drawing attention to fair trade.

    Reply

  88. I love the Keurig machines. I have an old Starbucks brewer at home, and while I love the taste, it is far more time consuming and I never can finish the pot. The Keurigs just simplify the whole process. I also love the idea of free trade coffee. I can enjoy my cup of joe if I know that the farmers are getting a fair deal. I tweeted about this too! https://twitter.com/rsteinlicht/status/382006441621479425

    Reply

  94. The only thing I look forward to more than your blog is my first cup of coffee in the morning. I have actually never purchased fair trade coffee but now that I know more about it, I should consider it. For convience and lack of time, I usually drink one cup of instant (which I actually like) in the morning but how I would love to pop that cup of fair trade coffee into a new Keurig!

    Reply

  99. Yes I drink coffee daily and I’ve already bought fair trade coffee! Green Mountain is one of my favorites. My husband and I went on a trip to Vermont and every rest stop has free little cups of GM coffee!! It was great.

    Reply

  100. Yes, I am an avid coffee person! I love fair trade and will support it but I have a suggestion. As a consumer, we would like to be able to trace the origins of the fair trade coffee we buy.
    blessienelson(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply

  102. My husband and I are huge coffee drinkers! I even made him a coffee themed gift basket for his birthday this year! We drink fair trade coffee (usually Green Mountain K-cups) and always look for it when purchasing.

    Reply

  104. Coffee lover. Kinda a snob to Joffrey’s Jamaccian Me crazy flavor. So I haven’t felt compelled to switch given the opportunity to try green mtn and kuerig for free. Yeah. I’d do that.

    Reply

  107. I grew up in a family where coffee was a staple. I love coffee, it gives me the pick-me-up I need to mentally prepare myself for the day. I work with at-risk youth and need the caffeine to keep me going. I would and have purchased fair trade coffee in the past, as long as the price is competitive.

    seanm 1999 @ hotmail dot com

    Reply

  108. I’m actually not a coffee drinker, but my husband is and he received a Keurig for Father’s Day that he absolutely loves. I enjoy using it for tea as well. I’d love to support fair trade coffee.

    Reply

  109. I’m not a coffee drinker. I’m more of a hot tea or hot cocoa person. I would love to win
    this for my mother-in-law. She loves coffee and would consider buying
    fair trade.

    Reply

  111. Mmm…coffee! I have bought fair trade coffee and fair trade lots of other things. I don’t typically buy FT coffee though. I probably should.

    Reply

  114. Yes, I am a coffee-a-holic! I look forward to my coffee every morning! I would definitely try Fair Trade Coffee :)

    Reply

  116. I like Green Mountain coffee, and this would be a great replacement for my little Black and Decker single cup brewer!

    Reply

  125. I am a big coffee drinker, and I would definitely consider fair trade.

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

    Reply

  128. I drink coffee at least every morning, and sometimes make more in the evening if the craving hits! I would buy fair trade. I don’t have a Keurig, but I think it could become my favorite kitchen appliance! :)

    chambanachik at gmail dot com

    Reply

  130. I’m a coffee drinker, and i’d definitely try Fair Trade coffee. They sound like a great company and they have a really great variety!

    Reply

  146. I’m not a coffee drinker, but I love tea. My husband loves both, though. I would definitely consider buying Fair Trade.

    Reply

  149. I drink coffee occasionally and everyone else in my house cannot start their day without coffee. We would definitely consider buying Fair Trade Coffee.

    Reply

  157. I drink coffee, and would gladly support Green Mountain by purchasing their product. I like idea of buying something knowing that those involved in it’s production have been treated ethically.

    Reply

  168. I’m not a serious coffee drinker but I absolutely am cognizant of fair trade coffee and I think it is a very important consideration.

    Reply

  177. I am a coffee drinker and although I don’t buy fair trade coffee right now I would. Its something to consider next time I go shopping :)

    Reply

  179. I would buy fair trade and I love coffee and drink a full pot everyday by myself

    kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply

  187. I am a coffee drinker. I would totally consider buying fair trade. I love the concept and I love coffee!

    susansmoaks at gmail dot com

    Reply

  196. I don’t drink coffee but my husband does. He loves to try new coffees all the time – so yes I would buy this coffee for him.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *