Regardless, yes. Starbucks is fucking huge.

jill — Thanks for the link updates — and for taking a Starbucks Challenge! Hard to know whether to tag it as a success or unsuccess, but I’ll give the mermaid the benefit of the doubt :)

I guess we’re lucky we don’t have any Dunkin’ Donut in SoCal — Do you have any up there in San Fran, Nick? BTW — Dunkin’ Donut’s decision to go all fair trade for their espresso drinks was made in part due to a recommendation from Mark of Taylor Maid Farms. Both the man and the company’s 100% fair trade, sustainably driven — and were psyched when Dunkin’ made this move :)

By the way, are you aware that Dunkin Donuts is owned by the Carlyle Group? And Baskin Robbins.

Carlyle, partners reportedly buy Dunkin’ Donuts
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2005/12/12/daily8.html

>> A group of investors, including The Carlyle Group, will buy Dunkin’ Brands, the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robins ice cream for $2.43 billion, according to published reports.

Carlyle Group
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlyle_Group

Once you start to scratch the surface on who is selling you your coffee, ice cream, donuts, and groceries, you start to understand the nature of these trillion dollar transnational cartels which span everything from energy, weapons, and yes, right down to your chocolate frosted cruller.

When you purchase a donut hole at Dunkin Donuts are you supporting counter-terrorism (AKA state-sponsored terrorism) around the globe?

Um.

Yeah.

I have been meaning to tell you however that recently I received a $75 gift card to Starbucks from my bank. So, I’ve been stopping by, oddly usually for a sandwich and Odwalla juice. But the other day I asked for fair trade coffee. The employee was a bit confused, but when the manager came out it was not an issue and they poured me one immediately. I was a bit suspicious at the ease however and think it might have been the blend of the day. I’ll give it another try and report back.

I also wanted to thank you for your recent comment-a-thon on fiftyRx3. I am also excited by the quality and quantity of the new “green” fashions emerging. You asked how I am finding the stuff. I guess I’ve been writing about it enough that people are starting to find me. I get designers and stores emailing frequently and also tips from readers. However, most of it comes from scouring the cultural landscape for any shread of sustainability and following the links.

I still have a limited but focused readership, but will be written up in NYLON’s August issue, so maybe that will help spread the word. BTW, I fixed the links for you!

That’s why Starbucks is flushing them.