My visit to a non-certified coffee farm left me doubting the fair trade hype

I went to a small farm in Colombia last spring, and it really made me think. A lot of people in coffee circles say you must always buy fair trade to do right by farmers. But this farm, while not certified, treated their workers fairly and used sustainable methods. The owner told me the fees and rules for fair trade were too much for their size, so they sold direct to a local roaster instead. Now I feel stuck, because I want to support ethical practices, but this farm seemed good without the label. It's not black and white, and I think we should judge each case instead of just looking for a sticker. Maybe sometimes the best coffee comes from places that don't fit the mold. What do you all think?