What Will the White House Brew?

Published December 17, 2008 @ 09:06AM PT

Currently, on Change.org's Ideas for Change in America conversation, the top Fair Trade Idea is to Declare the White House a Fair Trade Zone. The idea basically suggests to take the Fair Trade Town concept and apply it to the White House by having only Fair Trade Certified products served there. It would showcase the new Administration's commitment to ethical consumption.

On Fair Trade author and recent Face of Fair Trade, Jackie DeCarlo's blog, Jackie poses a very interesting question. If the White House were to start serving Fair Trade Certified coffee, which coffee company will provide their Fair Trade blend? WWWHB? What will the White House brew?

Jackie informs us that currently, Starbucks is the coffee being brewed at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Here's the question of the hour. Is Starbucks good enough for the White House?

[W]ould it be enough for those voting for this [change.org] idea to have Starbucks provide one of its Fair Trade blends in the White House? If so, this could be a pretty simple switch and we could spend our efforts using the moment to educate the Obama family and their staff as to why Fair Trade is important. OR, we could first get the agreement for Fair Trade coffee period, and then suggest a cupping so the Obama Family could chose their own preferred blends, including options from the fully committed world of Fair Traders who roast nothing but Fair Trade.

In other words, what do we mean by "Fair Trade zone?" What's enough commitment from the new residents of the White House? And will we stop at coffee? What about tea? Bananas?

Sure, it would be an easy switch for the White House to stay with Starbucks, but just switch to their Fair Trade, Estima Blend. But, is this sending a strong enough message toward a commitment to Fair Trade? Currently, Starbucks' Fair Trade commitment is a small percentage, so if we want the White House to be a Fair Trade Zone, shouldn't we go full on and find a coffee company that at 100% Fair Trade to supply the White House's coffee?

Stan Duncan posted a great comment over on Jackie's blog that I wanted to share regarding Starbucks' commitment issues.

I love Starbucks for flavor and variety, but they only have one line of fair trade coffee (Estima, I think) and it's not very good. Starbucks only took it on reluctantly and has never promoted it. Plus in their eyes, "Fair Trade" only means the base price. It does not mean long-term commitments, access to credit during lean times, and democratic principles (the other parts of fair trade). They are at present trying to redefine fair trade to their own liking, something that could undermine the movement.

Besides, there are a number of very fine and well known fair trade companies out there (Equal Exchange, Deans Beans Newman's Own, Grounds for Change, Just Coffee, etc.), so they couldn't be lacking in options.

I personally would suggest trying to get them to go with Equal Exchange, which is the largest and a head to head competitor with Starbucks. They also are the official fair trade coffee of the Obama's Church, the United Church of Christ, and have seen it served during "coffee hour" while back in Chicago, so it's familiar to them.

The Obamas drinking Equal Exchange coffee! I think it's a great idea to go with a coffee that they are already familiar with. But, why do they have to choose one particular Fair Trade coffee company? Why not support all of them? If there is a blind taste test, the Obamas could go for different blends from several companies.

Of course, the Change.org idea is asking for more than just Fair Trade coffee to be served. We're looking at tea, chocolate, fruit and even wine!

What does everyone else think? If we all vote for the Idea, we can take this to the White House. So vote vote vote.

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Comments (3)

It'd be great if it was part of an education process to unhitch the term "Fair Trade" from trade that benefits the US.

I've seen a lot of "Obama appoints Fair Traders to Cabinet", etc. lately, meaning people who are conditionally supportive of free trade except where countries don't practice it with the US, or it doesn't support US interests.

It seems to me it's the sort of thing that can usurp the meaning of Fair Trade.

Posted by Michael Zelmer on 12/18/2008 @ 08:42AM PT
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Fair Trade is the only way to go. It is a business model that reflects the ideology of the new administration. Equal Exchange is thriving amidst an economy in decline and exemplifies a successful socially responsible way of doing business. It would be very appropriate for Equal Exchange to be the source of coffee, chocolate, and tea in this White House; they are 100% Fair Trade and, quite frankly, offers a superior quality product than Starbucks. Barak, are you reading this?

Posted by Jonathan Freedman on 01/14/2009 @ 01:17PM PT
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@Michael: That is an important distinction to be made. While the 'free trade vs. fair trade' discussion/anti-free trade policy is very appropriate to the Fair Trade movement, it is just an aspect of the broader spectrum of Fair Trade as you and I know it, which is an alternative business model based on social justice (amongst other things).

@Jonathan: We really do need to call out to the new administration and show them that the people want to see a more socially responsible way of doing business. Fair Trade offers a piece in the puzzle of alleviating things such as poverty, environmental degradation, the food crisis, etc. I'm not claiming that it is the one solution to all these problems, but it does address all of these issues and does its part to be part of the solution. So, voting for this idea: http://www.change.org/ideas/view/declare_the_white_house_a_fair_trade_zone is the step in the right direction of getting the Fair Trade movement out there.

Posted by Zarah Patriana on 01/14/2009 @ 08:03PM PT
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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.