**Readers and bloggers: Please help get an answer from Starbucks! As a comment, add your name and location — and let us know where you found out about this letter in parentheses. Feel free too to add your own comments and questions. Go here for more info about the Starbucks Challenge.**
Dear Cindy, Major, and the rest of Starbucks:
We hate to bug you during a holiday-filled month, but we’ve been waiting for a long time for some answers and hope that posting our Qs in this more public form will help us get some much-needed info.
What we’re wondering about during our coffee breaks:
Why are so many Starbucks stores out of Café Estima, the only fair trade certified blend offered in Starbucks stores? (see here, here, here, here, here, and the comments here and here) Is this the fault of the distribution system (for not getting it to stores), the district or store manager (for not ordering it), or the individual baristas (for not looking harder for it)? Or – more optimistically – has Starbucks run out of Café Estima due to overwhelming customer demand for fair trade certified coffee?
Which makes us wonder — Are there concrete plans (i.e. percentage figures) a-brewing to increase Starbucks’ fair trade certified purchases? As you can tell by the results of the Starbucks Challenge, stores have been discouraging and refusing customer requests for fair trade coffee. We think it’s pretty fair to say that Starbucks’ headquarters doesn’t have a good sense of how much demand for fair trade certified coffee is out there. You said you’d have more fair trade certified coffee if customers demanded it. We’ve been, and we are, demanding it. Will you deliver?
But back to what you’ve already promised — What’s Starbucks planning to do on a national and international level to make sure its stores meet the Starbucks Challenge? We’re looking forward to the LA meeting, set for Dec. 16, but as you know, stores are failing the challenge all over the U.S. and the world. Neither of the emails sent out by headquarters have done much to improve things, and the new barista training video won’t come out until May 2006 – a half year after the start of the Starbucks Challenge. Since Starbucks prides itself on “legendary service,�? we hope the mermaid can more swiftly deliver on a customer service promise it’s been making for years. Will the mermaid take real actions – actions that actually effect change — to ensure its fair trade promises are kept?
And in case you assert (again) than certification’s not so important because all of Starbucks’ coffee is fairly traded, is there any way we can find out the minimum price Starbucks pays farmers for a pound of green coffee? We’re curious as to what the bare minimum is for this all-fairly-traded claim – especially since 41% of Starbucks’ coffee purchases don’t have transparency clauses that let Starbucks find out how much farmers are paid. We’re confused: How can Starbucks know that the prices paid to all its farmers are fair, when Starbucks doesn’t know how much many of its farmers are paid? Please illuminate us.
Aside from the top Q, we’ve been asking for answers to these for quite some time – some for over a month. We gave you a chance to answer via email – but haven’t heard back. We don’t think these are difficult questions, but due to the silence, we’re being forced to suspect that either Starbucks doesn’t care to make meeting its fair trade promises a priority, or that Starbucks doesn’t want to reveal this information, for whatever reason.
Please prove us wrong. Really hope to hear from you soon.
Siel, green LA girl, Los Angeles, CA (I wrote the letter)
Al, City Hippy, London, UK (I edited the letter)
CLICK HERE TO SIGN
**Update, 12/08/05: Cindy of Starbucks said she’ll have answers for us “before Christmas.” Please urge Starbucks, in your comments to have the answer to us before Dec. 16th, when Starbucks Challenge 3.0 closes.
Update, 12/23/05: Cindy of Starbucks responds on the last business day before xmas. Read Starbucks’ letter here!
Filed in: starbuckschallenge starbucks coffee letter fairtrade
Rainy, Yarnpirate, West Los Angeles, CA
(challenger)
Comment by Will Pillage For Yarn — December 3, 2005 @ 5:57 pm
Lloyd Y. Asato, Gilbert, AZ.
The Year of Coffee Blog
I join the authors by signing my name to this letter. I support the Starbucks Challenge and I encourage Starbucks to fully live up to the intent and letter of their “STARBUCKS, FAIR TRADE, AND COFFEE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ” policy.
Comment by Lloyd Y. Asato — December 3, 2005 @ 7:29 pm
Nathan Lange, Waukesha, WI
Earth by Night
If you pass a policy, follow it, don’t cheer about it.
Comment by Fletch — December 3, 2005 @ 8:11 pm
Roger, Gone Green
Pasadena, California USA
Comment by Roger, Gone Green — December 3, 2005 @ 8:58 pm
The lack of Cafe Estima is most likely to be blamed on Store manageras and supervisors for not ordering it or just not looking for it. I know that at this time of year some coffees get shelved elsewhere to make room for the abundance of Chrismas Blend. I do hope your home stores get this great coffee in for the great customers who appreciate the Fair Trade way.
Jenn =)
Northern California
Comment by Anonymous — December 3, 2005 @ 10:32 pm
So far, I’m not at all impressed with Starbucks or their attitude towards fair trade. They need to really shape up if they want me as a regular customer. Or a customer at all.
- Steve (Michigan/Wisconsin/Nicaragua)
Comment by Steve — December 4, 2005 @ 12:20 am
Fair trade is a very important issue to me and I support the challenge.
Comment by -K- — December 4, 2005 @ 12:34 am
It is time for Starbucks to lead by example, not by hollow words.
Kristen Andersen
Avalon, CA
U.S.A.
Comment by Kristen Andersen — December 4, 2005 @ 12:37 am
I won’t patronize Starbucks until they fulfill their promise on fair trade coffee.
Joseph Tsai
Burbank, CA
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 12:43 am
I would appreciate more employee education so this policy is uniformly implemented. Thanks!
Justin Baeder
Seattle, WA
Comment by Justin — December 4, 2005 @ 1:43 am
Signing on from Montreal.
Pippa McIntyre,
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Comment by Pippa — December 4, 2005 @ 5:38 am
I’ll be sticking with my locally-owned neighborhood coffee shop (which sells Fair Trade coffee exclusively) until Starbuck’s lives up to its promises.
Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, Ph.D.
St. Louis, MO
Comment by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — December 4, 2005 @ 6:22 am
marc hummel
philadelphia, pa
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 6:41 am
Promising Fair Trade coffee is a great first step, Starbucks! Let’s see if you can stay true to your word in the steps that follow.
Sam Cohen
New Haven, CT
sam bot dot com
Comment by Sam — December 4, 2005 @ 7:25 am
“My” Starbucks (Sycamore Road in DeKalb, Illinois) has been out of Cafe Estima for about a month. They say they’ve tried to order it; it just hasn’t come in. They are very sweet, KNOW I want fair trade coffee, and are willing (now) to make it for me -but they don’t have the coffee. The bottom line is I’ve taken my business elsewhere, in the meantime.
Andrea
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 7:38 am
Jason Duncan, Bozeman MT (altough we have not had the chance to particpate in the challange yet. No sealife in Bozeman!)
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 7:44 am
Starbucks, pleave live up to your word and advertising!
Kristin Hasselblad, Boise, Idaho
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 8:12 am
I’m on board. Consider this my signature.
Comment by Sour Duck — December 4, 2005 @ 8:43 am
I fully support this letter and the sentiments expressed within.
Jen Matis
Takoma Park, MD
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 8:50 am
Jennifer Ansley
Los Angeles, California
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 10:51 am
Jack Silbert
Hoboken, NJ
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 11:54 am
I’ve been served Cafe Estima twice at the Stabucks near me (Watsonville, CA) – once from an already-brewed pot and once as a french press. I was satisified knowing I could get fair trade coffee at this location. Please make it, and more choices, available everywhere. Listen to your customers and provide the quality coffee they are requesting.
Comment by Tree Plant — December 4, 2005 @ 12:58 pm
Christina Lizzi
George Washington University Students for Fair Trade
Comment by Christina Lizzi — December 4, 2005 @ 2:19 pm
I don’t even drink coffee, but think this is important!
Eric Corey Freed
San Francisco
Comment by Eric Corey Freed — December 4, 2005 @ 3:05 pm
John Keyes
Dublin, Ireland
Comment by Johnny K — December 4, 2005 @ 3:12 pm
J. A. Craves
Dearborn, MI
Having been served non-FT coffee and told it was FT here in suburban Detroit
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 3:14 pm
Ashley Koch
Lexington, KY
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 3:36 pm
There was none being served at the branch inside Indigo at the Manulife Centre in Toronto today. We left, and got coffee elsewhere.
Starbucks is being slow here. Even Tim Hortons is talking about fair trade coffee!
I have to say, though, I prefer the coffee everywhere else but Starbucks; it’s over-roasted and overpriced. I’ll stick to my organic Chiapas Autonomous Zone for now …
Comment by Stewart C. Russell — December 4, 2005 @ 3:38 pm
Shouldn’t the largest coffee chain in the world be held accountable? Your company can make a world of a difference. So what is going on here?
Yvonne Wood
East Lansing, MI
Comment by Yvonne Wood — December 4, 2005 @ 4:43 pm
Starbucks is the biggest buyer of fair trade coffee… shouldn’t it be available to the people who want it?
Sabrina Kay
Ithaca, NY
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 6:30 pm
Hey Starbucks – walk the walk
and recognize the IWW!
Comment by Julia Donahue — December 4, 2005 @ 6:46 pm
Dave Marcus
Lithonia, Georgia
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 6:55 pm
Signing on from Los Angeles in support of holding Starbucks accountable for the promises they make as a corporate citizen.
Comment by trill42 — December 4, 2005 @ 7:23 pm
Let’s see it Starbucks…
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2005 @ 8:48 pm
Starbucks, I love your coffee … would love it even more if I could get it fair trade. Do the right thing please.
Stephanie Schulte
Santa Clara, CA
Comment by Stephanie — December 4, 2005 @ 9:31 pm
Please sell more Fair Trade in the Starbuck’s in Chapel Hill.
Comment by Alex V — December 5, 2005 @ 12:19 am
You have a commitment to stand by your policy.
Comment by Anonymous — December 5, 2005 @ 3:05 am
I recently went to the Starbucks right next to the Fairmont Copley Hotel in Boston. When I asked for a cup of fair trade coffee, the woman behind the counter didn’t know what fair trade coffee was and had to ask another employee, who told her I could have a bag of ground coffee. If Starbucks has a policy around fair trade, it would be helpful if the employees were told about it. It appears to me that Starbucks doesn’t really care about fair trade, because if they did, their employees would have heard of it! This is not the first time I’ve had this experience in a Starbucks, and walked out because of it.
Comment by Mainer — December 5, 2005 @ 4:47 am
Right on!
Comment by Dan Marques — December 5, 2005 @ 6:24 am
Thank you for your work in Fair Trade so far. Please keep your promises and offer Fair Trade brewed coffee for every customer. This will raise awareness and help all farmers to eventually earn a fair wage for their coffee. Thank you.
Jessica Ennis
Chicago, IL
(USFT listserv)
Comment by Jessica Ennis — December 5, 2005 @ 7:05 am
Having lived in several cities in the last few years, I’ve tried purchasing Fair Trade certified coffee from Starbucks at many different locations in the Midwest. Everytime I’m met with either confusion as to what Fair Trade is or an endless list of excuses, despite the company policy. Actions speak louder than words.
Jill Westfall
Minneapolis, MN
(USFT listserv)
Comment by Anonymous — December 5, 2005 @ 7:14 am
I will not buy coffee at Starbucks until it is clear that they follow through with their Fair Trade promises.
Comment by Brandt Milstein — December 5, 2005 @ 8:23 am
As a Starbucks competitor, I can’t credibly add my name to the letter, but I applaud those of you who do.
On a side note, Siel, have you considered pursuing a class action suit against Starbucks for fraudulent advertising? Just a thought.
Comment by Karin — December 5, 2005 @ 8:33 am
Thanks Siel for writing this letter.
We all demand and deserve an answer.
Kristy Nishina
Los Angeles, CA
Comment by Anonymous — December 5, 2005 @ 9:20 am
Even in Seattle, the home base, there are Starbucks that do not have or promote the Cafe Estima. I think this pot of publicity should brew a little longer…
Ballardites Unite!
Comment by Anonymous — December 5, 2005 @ 10:03 am
As an industry leader with great resources, Starbucks should not only set high standards, but at the very least follow through on its promises.
Jennifer Kwok
Los Angeles, CA
Comment by Jen — December 5, 2005 @ 11:27 am
Please hurry your efforts to make fair trade coffee easily ready and available to customers at all locations.
Kristen Rockwell
Los Angeles, CA
Comment by Kristen Rockwell — December 5, 2005 @ 12:15 pm
Fair Trade is the only real type of trade!
Comment by Matt D — December 5, 2005 @ 1:16 pm
Starbucks has been a fore-runner in the coffee market – why shouldn’t it be the same for fair trade?
Comment by Kess — December 5, 2005 @ 1:20 pm
Elena Sierra
George Washington University Undergrad student
Comment by Anonymous — December 5, 2005 @ 1:41 pm
Meghan Sweet
George Washington University Undergrad Student
Comment by Anonymous — December 5, 2005 @ 2:25 pm
Elyse Tyson
George Washington University Undergrad Student
Comment by Anonymous — December 5, 2005 @ 3:08 pm
This is so stupid, I support Starbucks on this one. They are a publiclly traded company who does have other things to worry about than how much fair trade they have in their stores. Yes I think they should do whatever they can to help the coffee farmers but they legally have to maxamize their profits they have to do that for their shareholders. Like it or not this is a business and a business is not made to lose money its made to make money. It is a fact of life DEAL WITH IT!
Comment by Anonymous — December 5, 2005 @ 10:01 pm
Is that you, lawyerboy2, back with a “legally required” rant?
Starbucks already agrees they fucked up and are trying to fix the fuckup — Meaning if you “support Starbucks on this one,” you support Starbucks getting their shit together and serving fair trade coffee like they’ve been promising customers.
Cuz you know, boycotts and class action lawsuits are bad for biz. You know, the making money bit you mentioned.
Comment by Siel — December 5, 2005 @ 10:18 pm
I am happy to sign my name to this petition, and I encourage Starbucks to fully live up to the intent and letter of their fair trade policy.
Jeff Solomon
Graduate Student
USC
Comment by jeff solo — December 6, 2005 @ 1:10 am
I join in signing this petition. I also pledge not to purchase any coffee from Starbucks – Cafe Estima or not – until the questions raised in the letter are adequately addressed.
Lauren
Boston, Massachusetts
Comment by lauren — December 6, 2005 @ 8:00 am
I join in signing this petition.
Comment by Anne — December 6, 2005 @ 8:51 am
Starbucks can still be profitable while being morally responsible to its coffee producers and its consumers’ demands. I would personally buy coffee from Starbucks a lot more if I knew it was Fair Trade Certified.
Comment by Mike — December 6, 2005 @ 10:52 am
Neil Beaver, Adventures in Ethical Consumerism blog
Edinburgh, Scotland
Comment by beev — December 6, 2005 @ 12:09 pm
Helene Edelstein
Comment by Helene Edelstein — December 6, 2005 @ 1:20 pm
Rena Fagel
Reston, Viriginia
USA
Comment by RenaRF — December 6, 2005 @ 7:41 pm
More fair trade to help 3rd world farmers. Fair trade, not greed trade.
Comment by Anonymous — December 6, 2005 @ 8:11 pm
Steve Downing
Santa Barbara CA
I support this effort.
Comment by Steve Downing — December 6, 2005 @ 9:08 pm
Elizabeth Durack
Madison, WI
Comment by Anonymous — December 6, 2005 @ 9:36 pm
ohyeah, Fabooj sent me (from Daily Kos and http://faboomama.blogspot.com/) and she is really awesome :-)
Comment by Elizabeth D — December 6, 2005 @ 9:39 pm
Sign me in!
Debby Lovell
Indianapolis
Tell Starbucks that my frequently used Starbucks card wants answers on this one! And fabooj sent me as well.
Comment by Anonymous — December 6, 2005 @ 11:18 pm
San Diego, CA
Comment by Kristin Branson — December 7, 2005 @ 3:12 am
Janelle Ward
Rochester, MN
Comment by Anonymous — December 7, 2005 @ 5:19 am
Chris Gauss
George Washington University Undergrad student
Comment by Anonymous — December 7, 2005 @ 6:06 am
Sent over here by Fabooj, I am signing on in support of this. Back up those claims!
Christina
San Diego, CA
Comment by Anonymous — December 7, 2005 @ 9:38 am
Is the Fair trade blend included in any of the Starbucks holiday gift packages? I saw a gift item which is a sampler of six different blends but it didn’t have Cafe estima!
Sameer Marathe
State College, PA 16801
Comment by Transmogrifier — December 7, 2005 @ 11:41 am
I’ve been trying to sign the petition all night long…let’s hope it works this time!
Comment by faboo — December 7, 2005 @ 1:54 pm
Declan,
Dublin
Ireland.
Comment by Declan — December 7, 2005 @ 2:55 pm
I used to go to this one Starbucks where they would French-press a single cup of fair trade coffee for me. At many other locations though, they just roll their eyes.
I think this is a good tactic though. If they’re not brewing fair trade then ask them to make an individual batch with the french-press (which all stores have). This takes a lot of time, so be nice and add a tip.
The other benefit is it usually forces the store to waste an entire bag of fair trade, which means they’re going to have to restock!
Eventually the co. will figure out that it’s cheaper to just carry it as a ubiquitous option (like decaf).
Comment by Anonymous — December 7, 2005 @ 6:40 pm
STBX always touts its place as the largest North American buyer of Fair Trade coffees. But, given their size and visability in the specialty market, they have not made much of a commitment at all.
I’ve personally only got Fair Trade about half the time that I’ve asked for it at stores. That means that their policy is not being followed. It’s lip service. They’re trying to coopt people out of making a real substantial demand.
Regardless, even if STBX follows their policy, how many people will actually ask for a french press? The solution is to BREW FAIR TRADE AS THE COFFEE OF THE DAY EVERYDAY. The quality is plenty good, and they can add new SKUs of Fair Trade to create the diversity in flavor they need.
And, oh, by the way, the whole story about the Christmas coffees taking all of Fair Trade’s room is ridiculous. Why can’t the Christmas coffees be Fair Trade? Answer: They can, and STBX isn’t going to show creativity until consumers and students make them do it!
Comment by Bridgette Banales — December 14, 2005 @ 4:39 pm
At the price Starbuck’s pays for its beans, it should just go 100% Fair Trade and avoid the bad publicity for running out and not keeping its promises.
Comment by Shawn Wozniak — December 14, 2005 @ 5:17 pm
Ok — These were left on my old site — So I’m trying to compile everything together on this site and kill the link to the other site — Sorry ’bout the confusion –
Anonymous said…
Starbucks sells FT? News to me. I’ll ask for it in future. BTW, Faboo sent me.
Scott S.
Bowie, Md
12/08/2005 04:47:05 AM
*****
FARfetched said…
There’s a Starbucks on my way home from work; although I usually patronize the local indie shop I’d probably spring for a bag of FT coffee if they have it.
Faboo told me about the petition.
Larry K.
Planet Georgia
12/08/2005 07:41:57 AM
*****
faboo
faboo said…
I forgot to “sign” my name.
Anika Denton
Los Angeles, CA
BTW, I’ve hit up 4 different Starbucks in the last 2 days. At 3 of them, none of them knew what I was talking about. At one, the girl just rolled her eyes at me and said, “fine”. I waited for 30 minutes and still no coffee. I asked for a venti drip instead and she called me a troublemaker. Such customer service.
I also have a neighbor who works at Starbucks. When I mentioned this to him yesterday, he had no idea what I was talking about. He’s worked there for 3 years. Before he went to work this morning, he said he spoke with the manager who said, “Oh yeah. If they ask for it, try to offer them something else, unless the line is short.” I have another neighbor who works at a different Starbucks, I’ll try to catch him when he gets home to get his take on this.
12/08/2005 02:00:31 PM
*****
Anonymous said…
I used to work for Starbucks as a Store Manager. We were reminded to brew FT on the 20th of each month and there were memo’s that told us to brew a French Press upon request. The problem comes in when there is too little staffing to support conflicting priorities (like serving customers in less than 3 minutes, keeping the pastry case bountiful, keeping the café and restrooms spotless, washing dishes, stocking retail, stocking coffee displays…) and lack of training. Not because of lack of caring about training – but with the limited training time available. One of the expectations Starbucks has is that all partners complete a coffee passport – which means they have to do an ‘official’ tasting of all of the coffees offered. The only way to do that is with a French Press. So managers should be training their partners to use a French Press each time they are working on their coffee passport and they will then become trained and more proficient in the steps needed to prepare the perfect press for the customer who requests FT.
The other issue is that Starbucks does not put an effort into teaching their partners about Fair Trade. If the partners had a connection with FT and understood what is really about they would then embrace the customers requesting that one-off French Press. Then Starbucks would run the risk of internal pressure from the partners wanting more FT coffee.
The earlier comment about taking the FT coffee out of inventory is valid. When a customer requests a cup of FT the partner has to either find a bag that has been opened already and use that (assuming it hasn’t expired – once it is opened it begins to deteriorate and should be discarded after a certain number of days) or they have to find a new bag and use that. Since FT coffee hasn’t become a high demand item in most Starbucks stores it isn’t unusual for the Store Manager to order very small quantities and then run out.
Ultimately these issues can be resolved at the corporate level by Starbucks sourcing more FT coffee and offering it as the coffee of the day on a regular rotation. One day a month is not sufficient.
I have since found Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and appreciate their commitment to Fair Trade and Organic coffee and really enjoy their coffee much more than any other roasters out there.
12/09/2005 06:59:33 AM
*****
Michelle Lee said…
Great Idea!! I would definitely request this if were available, and visit Starbuck’s more often because of it. I only purchase Fair Trade coffee for my home and I am disappointed more chains don’t have it readily available for take out.. And, french-press coffee tastes better :)
12/09/2005 07:01:47 AM
*****
Maya said…
I support you all the way…Hope we’ll get answers soon.
12/09/2005 08:11:08 AM
*****
Siel
Siel said…
Hey Faboo — which stores were these? Lemme know and I’ll tag them up so they can get on the map! And thanks for the insider info, to both faboo and the anonymous ex Starbucks manager!! Super interesting — BTW, Bloggle is written by the Green Mountain Roasters tech guy :)
12/09/2005 03:27:26 PM
*****
mateotemprano said…
sign me up!
Matt Earley
Just Coffee: Not just a market, but a movement!
http://www.justcoffee.net
Madison, WI
SBUX is a huge problem, and a good one to hammer on. They have been let off the hook to up their committment to fair trade and should be called to the mat. TFUSA should enforce their own rules on SBUX and other trans-nationals as well. And it is completely in-line for activists to bug the crap out of all of these companies.
As far as the “must serve the shareholders” argument goes, it is a ruse. Trade should benefit all involved, not just the companies that have the power to rip off producers. Market exchange can be equitable and still work. After you give SBUX hell, leave without spending a penny and go buy coffee from a 100% fair trade company instead of supporting one that uses the FT seal for marketing purposes while purchasing 98% of their beans for sweatshop prices!
12/09/2005 05:31:05 PM
*****
faboo
faboo said…
The Starbucks I went to were:
Stanley and Melrose (my local), though yesterday I talked to another guy who worked there and he knew what I was talking about.
Olympic and Fairfax
La Cienega and La Tijera (?)
La Brea and Santa Monica
I’m going to Farmers Market today, so we’ll see if they do it. There’s also one in B&N at The Grove, are they held by the same standards?
I spoke to my other neighbor who works at the one on Santa Monica in West Hollyood closest to La Cienega (does it make sense that all 1.3 or whatever square miles of West Hollywood has 3 Starbucks on the same stinkin’ street?) and he said that they get requests for the FT coffee all the time and have no problem doing it. He’s even going to get me a free bag of coffee (yay!).
12/10/2005 10:48:57 AM
*****
Siel
Siel said…
Hi former Starbucks manager (anonymous) — Thanks for the info. Used it in my post today :)
Faboo — The stores’ve been tagged! And glad to hear there’s at least 1 store on top of things in LA — and that there are lotsa people requesting fair trade!
mateotemprano — I’m so interested in Just Coffee! Was talking about you guys with someone at TransFair last week. Hope you came through the hurricane okay –
12/10/2005 09:31:11 PM
*****
Catherine said…
Starbucks has a great opportunity here to set an important example for coffe shops everywhere. Go for it!
12/12/2005 02:23:20 AM
*****
Anonymous said…
Alexis Carroll
Boise, ID
12/12/2005 08:21:33 AM
*****
Anonymous said…
“…purchasing 98% of their beans for sweatshop prices!”
Please keep in mind that Starbucks purchased their beans for $1.20/lb vs. Fair Trade price of $1.26 when the commodity price for coffee was around $.85…
12/13/2005 01:31:25 PM
*****
Siel
Siel said…
Anonymous — That $1.20 didn’t actually go to farmers.
12/13/2005 01:50:01 PM
*****
K32Dance03 said…
Katie Oreskovich
Westville IL
Student, Community Council Secretary
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon, WV
12/14/2005 03:25:22 PM
*****
Robert ‘Groby’ Blum said…
Robert Blum
Los Angeles, CA
Sorry for signing on that late – spaced out a bit..
12/15/2005 08:24:15 AM
*****
Tim Wientzen said…
Starbucks has been dragging its feet over Fair Trade for four or five years. This is plain sad.
12/15/2005 08:45:52 AM
*****
Anonymous said…
Thanks for listening and hope to get some answers (and good coffee) soon.
Kathy S. – Los Angeles, CA
(Faboo sent me)
12/16/2005 12:42:35 PM
Comment by Siel — December 16, 2005 @ 4:17 pm
Yes, we have to continue lobbying our local Starbucks to brew Fair Trade Coffee every day,
not only upon request.
Austin Syracuse FairTrade coordinator
Comment by Austin Syracuse — December 16, 2005 @ 5:45 pm
I can’t remember if I signed this or not. If I didn’t, I meant to. I will do the challenge at our town’s two Starbucks … I don’t know if it’ll happen before the holidays but we’ll see.
Thank you GREEN LA GIRL for all you are doing! I used to work for Starbucks back in the day, and I remember vaguely something about fair trade and making a french press for customers, but I never had to do it and was never asked about it.
Comment by Maria — December 17, 2005 @ 4:30 pm
I’m in Flagstaff AZ and would love to have fair trade coffee. I have gotten french press fair trade in Las Vegas back in 2005. Just hoping you will work harder to make this happen.
Comment by Laura Wittke — March 11, 2006 @ 7:38 pm
I would love to get Fair Trade Coffee in Irvine, Orange county.
Comment by Mohamed — October 9, 2006 @ 9:12 pm
I am sure that there are plenty of positives out there, but what have you seen for yourself? Be nice to my spongy care A joke for you peoples! What did the cannibal do when he saw an “All you can eat” restaurant? He had two waiters and a busboy.
Comment by SealrySeesk — October 28, 2008 @ 10:45 am