Scribd
Upload
439 views2 pages

Coffee's Global Impact & Ethics

1. American consumption of coffee has significantly impacted coffee farmers globally. While large companies like Starbucks aim to support farmers, questions remain around transparency and ensuring fair prices that support long-term sustainability. 2. As consumers, small decisions can shift power to farmers by supporting ethical sourcing practices that guarantee living wages and good working conditions over maximizing corporate profits. However, companies keeping key information like farm locations proprietary limits accountability. 3. Geography and climate have historically determined ideal coffee growing regions, but political and climate changes now force shifts to new areas, with uncertain impacts on traditional and emerging farmer communities.

Uploaded by

andreshostia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
439 views2 pages

Coffee's Global Impact & Ethics

1. American consumption of coffee has significantly impacted coffee farmers globally. While large companies like Starbucks aim to support farmers, questions remain around transparency and ensuring fair prices that support long-term sustainability. 2. As consumers, small decisions can shift power to farmers by supporting ethical sourcing practices that guarantee living wages and good working conditions over maximizing corporate profits. However, companies keeping key information like farm locations proprietary limits accountability. 3. Geography and climate have historically determined ideal coffee growing regions, but political and climate changes now force shifts to new areas, with uncertain impacts on traditional and emerging farmer communities.

Uploaded by

andreshostia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Chapter 1: The Starbucks Experience

1. What influence has American culture had on coffee exports and the lives of
farmers?
2. If you had coffee this morning, where did that coffee come from? How have your
purchasing decisions impacted the lives of coffee farmers? Do you feel your cup
influenced these decisions?
3. Starbucks would not share the location of its farms because of proprietary
information. How would you define proprietary? When should something be
proprietary and when should it not?
4. Do you feel that it is fair for Starbucks to keep the information proprietary? Why
or why not?
5. The Starbucks C.A.F.E. regulation program would not be defined as Fair Trade.
Should farmers whose farms have been certified as Starbucks C.A.F.E. (with or
without their knowledge) know the markup on their coffee? Why or why not?
6. Comparing Juan Valdez to Starbucks, what are the strengths and weaknesses
of each model?
7. Empresas de Narino had good intentions by giving away ben- ˜ eficios to lucky
farmers, but it is clear that its actions have not helped in the long run. What role
should coffee companies have in continuing education for their farmers? What
could that model look like?
8. What is it about the geography and climate of Colombia that makes it ideal for
coffee growing? 9. Since the beginning of coffee in Ethiopia to its evolution to
Central and South America, climate has played a major role in coffee. How is
climate changing the coffee boom in the present day?
10. Because of climate and politics, there has been a shift of coffee farms moving
from Central and South America to places as far off as Vietnam. How does this
impact the lives of farmers in Colombia? How does it impact the lives of farmers in
nontraditional coffee growing locations?

DEVELOPMENT
1. America is the largest consumer of coffee in the world today and coffee itself
is the second most produced commodity in the world behind oil. Today 22
million people rely on their income from coffee production and transport and
a massive portion of this market is directed towards the United States. 
2. Fortunately, as consumers, we can make small and easy decisions that
support a more sustainable coffee industry, if we just have the right
information. As consumers, we have the economic ability to shift the power
into the hands of farmers – farmers who pour their heart and soul into their
crops. Or we can contribute to the issues of poor wages, poor labor
conditions for workers, and unethical farming practices. Making that
difference is up to us.
3. Proprietary information is information that a company wishes to keep secret.
This type of information can include everything from a recipe, to a specific
formula, or a design plan that is used to make a company’s products. It can
also extend to a company’s salary structure, employment contracts, and
marketing plans
4. It's not fair because Starbucks can't keep playing with farmers' work by
buying at low prices and enriching their pockets
5. not because the farmer for having a fixed income does not understand the
trade and child processes committed to being guided by a recognized brand
by making contracts that ultimately benefit nothing.
6. Starbucks variety in prices and products and juan valdes quality price and
only sell products dericados del café.
7.

You might also like