The Best Part of Waking Up?
The price of coffee on the open market has fallen sharply in the last ten years, driving farmers who used to be able to make a living growing beans into poverty. So an effort by one country’s government to help their farmers do better should be a very, very good thing, right? Not according to Starbucks, a corporation that makes a lot of money off of the commodity in question.
Ethiopia petitioned the US Government to trademark the names of three of its most famous coffee growing areas: Sidamo, Yirgacheffe and Harar. Opposing the claim is the National Coffee Association, who some claim was pressured by Starbucks into blocking Ethiopia’s bid. Not to mention Starbucks already had an application to trademark a phrase that included the word ‘sidamo’.
The coffee industry in Ethiopia could benefit as much as $88 million a year from the move, no small change in a country where the per capita GDP is $832 a year. Also, Starbucks is purported to be “coffee that cares” (their words, not mine). So why throw a wrench in the process? By trademarking these names, Ethiopia will have control over the marketing and be able to turn more of the profits from bean sales over to farmers, who as of now only receive 6-10 percent of the retail price. In other words, from coffee that retails for $13 per pound, a farmer will see $1 or less.
Oxfam is encouraging coffee lovers to support Ethiopia’s claim by contacting Starbucks HQ. They have a campaign website at http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo/campaigns/coffee/starbucks/
Sources: Spiegel International, Oxfam America, UK Guardian
Ethiopia petitioned the US Government to trademark the names of three of its most famous coffee growing areas: Sidamo, Yirgacheffe and Harar. Opposing the claim is the National Coffee Association, who some claim was pressured by Starbucks into blocking Ethiopia’s bid. Not to mention Starbucks already had an application to trademark a phrase that included the word ‘sidamo’.
The coffee industry in Ethiopia could benefit as much as $88 million a year from the move, no small change in a country where the per capita GDP is $832 a year. Also, Starbucks is purported to be “coffee that cares” (their words, not mine). So why throw a wrench in the process? By trademarking these names, Ethiopia will have control over the marketing and be able to turn more of the profits from bean sales over to farmers, who as of now only receive 6-10 percent of the retail price. In other words, from coffee that retails for $13 per pound, a farmer will see $1 or less.
Oxfam is encouraging coffee lovers to support Ethiopia’s claim by contacting Starbucks HQ. They have a campaign website at http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo/campaigns/coffee/starbucks/
Sources: Spiegel International, Oxfam America, UK Guardian