Starbucks and Fairtrade coffee
I’ve written about Fairtrade chocolate before but maybe the most important Fairtrade product is coffee.
Starbucks are gradually switching out their “regular” coffee for Fairtrade coffee. Last year they starting using only 100% Fairtrade coffee for expresso-based coffees sold in the UK and Ireland.
To be deemed Fairtrade, coffee manufacturers need to fulfill a set of criteria which have to do with sustainability, water consumption, soil erosion and other such concerns. This is to educate the farmers as much as it is to guarantee continual supply of quality coffee. The coffee also needs to be bought (in this case by Starbucks) at over normal market prices, thereby protecting the farmers from predatory business practices which otherwise rule coffee farming in some areas.
The farmers also receive a social premium; money paid on top of the Fairtrade minimum price that is invested in social, environmental and economic developmental projects. This is decided upon democratically by a committee of producers within the organization, or by workers on the farms and co-ops.
It is the premium that makes the huge difference in the farmers and the villagers’ lives. Globally, Starbucks contributed over $3.5 million in Fairtrade premiums for coffee-growing communities last year. Sales in the UK and Ireland are projected to generate a premium of more than £350,000 in the coming year.
In the Tanzanian village where Kili Cafe is grown, they built a school where they could hold classes, bought mattresses for new mothers and brought water to the community. In other towns they have introduced health programmes and training for workers as well as care for the elderly.
Essentially, Fairtrade is all about educating the farmers, making sure they get a fair price for their product and that a part of that money goes back into their community.
All Fairtrade items are marked with the Fairtrade logo, look for it next time you buy coffee.
Original article at Treehugger.
