Comments on: A Brief History of the Coffee Crop & Direct Trade http://www.appendixej.com/2008/03/06/a-brief-history-of-the-coffee-crop-direct-trade/ the official blog of the coffee house that loves you to bits Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:55:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Latte Artist http://www.appendixej.com/2008/03/06/a-brief-history-of-the-coffee-crop-direct-trade/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Latte Artist Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:32:11 +0000 http://ejcommunique.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-15 Yes you can thank Starbucks for this. In the same way you can thank the Nazis for D-Day. Why does Starbucks claim to be a leader in corporate social responsibility when they pay coffee prices that keep their coffee farmers in poverty? Direct Trade is working toward the problem of how the coffee industries treat growers. Do a bit of Googling and you find many articles on how the CSR program makes for nice corporate propaganda but there is little evidence it is happening. Here is just one example: "The Starbucks Workers Union and Justice from Bean to Cup!'s exposé on Starbucks' purchasing practices in Ethiopia. This video uncovers the reality behind Starbucks' relationship with the Fero cooperative. The Fero cooperative in Sidamo, Ethiopia grew and processed "Shirkina Sun-Dried Sidamo," a black apron exclusive coffee that retailed for $26.00 per pound, for Starbucks. Yet Starbucks paid only $1.32 per pound to the Cooperative, of which at most only $.57 went to the coffee farmers themselves. The farmers of the Fero Cooperative are struggling to rise out of poverty - they deserve a fair price from Starbucks. Why does Starbucks claim to be a leader in corporate social responsibility when they pay coffee prices that keep their coffee farmers in poverty?" Video is found here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9xTk_LLjxUk Yes you can thank Starbucks for this. In the same way you can thank the Nazis for D-Day. Why does Starbucks claim to be a leader in corporate social responsibility when they pay coffee prices that keep their coffee farmers in poverty?
Direct Trade is working toward the problem of how the coffee industries treat growers. Do a bit of Googling and you find many articles on how the CSR program makes for nice corporate propaganda but there is little evidence it is happening.

Here is just one example:

“The Starbucks Workers Union and Justice from Bean to Cup!’s exposé on Starbucks’ purchasing practices in Ethiopia. This video uncovers the reality behind Starbucks’ relationship with the Fero cooperative. The Fero cooperative in Sidamo, Ethiopia grew and processed “Shirkina Sun-Dried Sidamo,” a black apron exclusive coffee that retailed for $26.00 per pound, for Starbucks. Yet Starbucks paid only $1.32 per pound to the Cooperative, of which at most only $.57 went to the coffee farmers themselves. The farmers of the Fero Cooperative are struggling to rise out of poverty – they deserve a fair price from Starbucks.

Why does Starbucks claim to be a leader in corporate social responsibility when they pay coffee prices that keep their coffee farmers in poverty?”

Video is found here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9xTk_LLjxUk

]]> By: Mason http://www.appendixej.com/2008/03/06/a-brief-history-of-the-coffee-crop-direct-trade/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Mason Fri, 07 Mar 2008 03:33:39 +0000 http://ejcommunique.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-14 You can thank Starbucks for blazing this trail for you. I think it is important to give credit to the people who have the original ideas. Pick up any info on their CSR program. Kudos to you for doing the right thing anyway. It's better for society as a whole. You can thank Starbucks for blazing this trail for you. I think it is important to give credit to the people who have the original ideas. Pick up any info on their CSR program. Kudos to you for doing the right thing anyway. It’s better for society as a whole.

]]> By: Jim http://www.appendixej.com/2008/03/06/a-brief-history-of-the-coffee-crop-direct-trade/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Jim Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:35:01 +0000 http://ejcommunique.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-13 What a wonderful article. It just goes to show you that things are always as simple as they seem. Getting great coffee is nice but making sure the farmer gets what it is worth so he can continue and raise the standard of living in his country is more important than getting coffee that the price is determined by the whim of investors looking for a quick profit. What a wonderful article. It just goes to show you that things are always as simple as they seem. Getting great coffee is nice but making sure the farmer gets what it is worth so he can continue and raise the standard of living in his country is more important than getting coffee that the price is determined by the whim of investors looking for a quick profit.

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