Americans spend millions of dollars for their morning cappuccinos and latt‚s, but for many small farmers, the expense of coffee production is immeasurable.

In the remote regions of more than 20 million countries, small coffee farmers live in poverty and hunger, said Tammi Martin, manager of Worldly Goods.

Worldly Goods, 223 Main St., is a non-profit store that sells Fair Trade products from over 30 developing countries around the world.

Fair Trade is a national organization that promotes social responsibility and public accountability while marketing foreign goods, Martin said. The Fair Trade Organization markets coffee, clothing, jewelry and other crafts from Third World countries.

Coffee is the second largest import in the United States, but despite the increasing demand, small farmers are often paid less than the cost of production, Martin said.

Since there is an abundance of coffee producers throughout the world, prices have plummeted and large corporations have pocketed the difference, she said.

The result is large-scale impoverishment, Martin said.

Some blame capitalism while many attribute the maltreatment of foreign workers to globalization, said Balmurli Natrajan, assistant anthropology professor.

He said one of the reasons exploitation occurs is because people don’t understand where the products they buy come from.

“People need to make informed decisions about where, how and under what conditions things are made,” said Martin.

Fair trade practitioners develops one-on-one relationships with workers in Third World countries instead of operating through corporate middlemen, Natrajan said.

Fair Trade gives small coffee farmers a fair price for the goods they produce while providing safe working conditions, Martin said.

While coffee prices fluctuate, Fair Trade consistently pays farmers a living wage, she said. A living wage means that workers have enough money for basic needs, education, health care and community advancement.

Martin said she is enthusiastic about the increasing popularity of Fair Trade products. “The mission of our store, first and foremost, is to put the welfare of people before profit,” Martin said.

She said she hopes other businesses will follow suit.

Since many of the products Americans use are made in foreign counties, it’s easy to consume without questioning, Martin said. Many Americans don’t realize some foreign countries don’t enforce labor laws protecting children and eliminating forced labor.

Jennifer Malone, manager of Caf‚ Diem, 323 Main St., said the caf‚ is the first and only coffee shop in Ames to market only fair trade coffee. She hopes this will increase public awareness and put pressure on other businesses to market Fair Trade products.

“People need to open their eyes to the options that are available other than what’s in the supermarket,” Malone said.

She said health-conscious customers appreciate Fair Trade coffee because it’s organic and is grown under environmentally safe conditions.

“As our staff educates customers about what they are supporting, people are becoming more aware,” Malone said.

Malone and Martin said they hope the way they do business increases the public’s sensitivity to foreign production standards.

Natrajan said students can become involved by joining the Iowa State Fair Trade Organization. Members of the Iowa State Fair Trade Organization were not available for comment.

A small way community members can help is by asking for Fair Trade products the next time they buy a cup of coffee, Martin said. If people express concern about foreign humanity, businesses may be more inclined to re-evaluate their perception of success.