Human Rights Activists Say Thousands of Poor Farmers in the Developing World Will Be Guaranteed a Living Wage

Protesters Now Plan to Turn Their Attention to Other Coffee Retailers

Monday, April 10 -- Bowing to human rights activists' demands to begin guaranteeing a living wage for small coffee farmers in the developing world, Starbucks announced today that it has signed a contract to sell Fair Trade Certified coffee as one of its brands in more than 2,000 cafes across the United States starting this fall. The announcement comes just three days before the launch of a nationwide, grassroots campaign demanding that the giant retailer offer its customers the choice to buy socially responsible, Fair Trade Certified coffee.. Protests in front of Starbucks cafes had been scheduled to take place in 30 cities across the country on Thursday, April 13.

"This represents the largest purchase of Fair Trade Certified coffee in the United States," said Deborah James, Director of the Fair Trade Program at Global Exchange, a San Francisco-based human rights organization that had organized the nationwide protests. "It's a huge victory for farmers in the developing world. Thousands of farming families in poor countries will see their incomes triple with this purchase."

The company's sudden decision highlights the increasing power of citizens movements to hold corporations accountable for their actions. The announcement also underscores the growing demand for products made in conditions that are not exploitative; coffee is the first product with an independent certifying system that ensures against sweatshop abuses.

"This is a major step for the corporate accountability movement," said Medea Benjamin, Global Exchange's Founding Director. "Coffee farmers are some of the most exploited workers in the world. The Fair Trade system, which guarantees farmers a living wage for their harvest, provides a real solution. With the extra earnings, coffee growers are able to invest in their families' health care, education, and community development."

"Coffee drinkers will now have the choice of buying socially responsible, Fair Trade coffee," Benjamin added. "But consumers should know that Starbucks coffee without the Fair Trade seal is very likely sweatshop coffee."

The Fair Trade system guarantees a minimum price for small farmers' harvest and encourages organic and sustainable cultivation methods that are safer for communities. Fair Trade farmers are provided badly needed credit and assured a minimum of $1.26 per pound. In comparison, the world price usually hovers around $1 per pound, but most farmers earn less than 50 cents per pound since they are forced to sell to exploitative middlemen.

"We're happy that Fair Trade Certified coffee is finally becoming available in the United States," said Jorge Cueves, a manager of a Fair Trade cooperative in Oaxaca, Mexico. "It will mean so much for our communities and our families. A fair price means the difference between poverty and success."

Fair Trade promoters say they will now turn their attention to companies that have not committed to offering their consumers socially responsible coffee, including Folgers, Maxwell House, Peets, Diedrich Coffee, Tully's, Barnies, Seattle's Best, and Caribou.

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