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Starbucks doubles Fairtrade commitment
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has announced a partnership between Transfair USA, Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) and Starbucksto double the amount of Fairtrade coffee sold by the world’s largest coffeehouse company by the end of 2009. It will make the Seattle based company the largest buyer of Fairtrade certified coffee in the world.
‘This commitment from Starbucks could not have come at a better time for coffee farmers as they face the threats of climate change and higher prices and brace themselves for a global slowdown,’ said Rob Cameron, CEO of FLO. ‘The partnership combines the expertise of Fairtrade in delivering grassroots based farmer and consumer empowerment in global markets, with Starbucks’ incentive-based programme for improvement of coffee quality and farmer incomes. Together, we believe we can forge a model of trade for sustainable development that the coffee industry has never before seen.’
Coffee farmers celebrate anniversary
On 29 November, the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania will come alive in celebration of the oldest co-operative in all of Africa. KNCU (Kilimanjaro Native Co-operative Union) was officially incorporated in 1933, and to celebrate 75 years of smallholder empowerment, many of the 65,000 farmers who belong to the co-operative will descend on Moshi for the festivities.
The day will be a culmination of a series of events among primary societies around the mountain in the days leading up to the big party. Cafédirect, key partners with KNCU since 1994, will be joining hundreds of local students – whose education is supported through Fairtrade premiums – to mark the occasion.
To see footage of the event, send messages to KNCU, or learn more, please visit www.cafedirect.co.uk
London - the world's largest Fairtrade City
On 23 October, London was declared the largest Fairtrade City in the world. This was the culmination of a drive launched in 2003 by the then Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone and backed by current Mayor Boris Johnson, who described the declaration as ‘super news.’ Across the capital, 20 boroughs now have Fairtrade status, five of which are Olympic boroughs. Almost 1,000 retailers and 600 catering outlets now sell a range of products which carry the famous FAIRTRADE Mark.
But as seasoned campaigners will know, the work doesn’t stop after declaration. Sophi Tranchell, chair of the Fairtrade London Steering Committee said: ‘We hope that people all over London will continue to do their bit by joining their local campaign and getting their schools and workplaces to stock more Fairtrade Marked products.’
© Winter 2008 Fair Comment