Starbucks to Double Fair Trade Certified Coffee Purchases

Published October 29, 2008 @ 05:06AM PT

Absolutely huge news. Starbucks, TransFair USA and the Fairtrade Labelling Organization (FLO) has made a groundbreaking annoucement that Starbucks will double its Fair Trade Certified coffee purchases, making them the largest purchaser of Fair Trade Certified coffee in the world.

Starbucks, TransFair USA and the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) today announced a groundbreaking initiative that builds upon the organizations' shared history of support for small-scale coffee farmers. Starbucks, one of the largest buyers of Fair Trade Certified™ coffee, will double its purchases to 40 million pounds in 2009, making the company the largest purchaser of Fair Trade Certified coffee in the world. Marking a new phase in their nine-year relationship with Starbucks, TransFair USA and FLO will join Conservation International as key partners in the Starbucks™ Shared Planet™ commitment to ethical sourcing.

"Starbucks announcement to double their Fair Trade Certified commitment in 2009 shows tremendous leadership. This dramatic volume increase will have a far-reaching positive impact in coffee growing communities throughout the developing world - it will send kids to school, bring clean water to farming communities and enable struggling farmers to put food on the table," said Paul Rice, president and ceo of TransFair USA. "Starbucks™ Shared Planet™ initiative empowers consumers to make ethical decisions about the coffee they drink, and support the farmers that produce it."

Full press release.

What does this mean for the movement? The implications are huge and personally, I am still digesting the information. I'm sure many in the movement don't want this to be a case of 'Fair Trade-Lite' where the main tenets of Fair Trade are diluted and profits are put before people and principles. The news is so fresh, we have yet to hear from others in the movement. Stay tuned as it all unfolds, fellow Fair Traders.

[image credit Jasmin Chua, at www.worstedwitch.com]

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Author

Zarah is the Operations Manager for the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store, a project of the international human rights organization, Global Exchange. Alongside her work with marginalized communities from all over the world to get their products into the international market, Zarah serves to educate and inform the public about a more just and sustainable trading system.