What is Sustainable Coffee and How Does it Affect My Wake Cup?
Gourmet coffee lovers have been seeing a few new terms in the local premium coffee shop as they file past the seasonal retail displays of roasted whole bean bagged coffees. Phrases include eco-friendly, organic, shade grown, fair trade and certified sustainable. Most often those beans seem to the casual buyer to be simply more expensive than the corporate mega-brands.
But these few phrases represent far more than at first glance, including economic and social gains for the growing regions and farmers, harvesters and processors of green coffee beans at the local level. Sustainable coffee means premium prices and quality coffee due to organic farming practices, fair market payment for beans to local growers and quality controls being adopted by the "certified" coffee brands.
Those premium coffee prices reflect growing concerns worldwide of paying fair wages to growers, using more expensive ecologically friendly organic farming practices, better pay for traditionally underpaid harvesters and processing workers and strict quality controls being adopted for "certified sustainable coffees."
Daniele Giovannucci consults with governments, international agencies, and businesses on coffee markets and production strategies to improve competitiveness and support innovative environmental and rural poverty reduction work. Giovannucci has authored exhaustive studies, including the 2003, "The State of Sustainable Coffee Report - A Study of Twelve Major Markets."
http://www.cec.org/files/PDF/ECONOMY/CoffeeSurvey_EN.pdf
This study discusses coffee market forces in Europe and Japan and the growth of sustainable coffee around the world, estimating that fair trade, organic, and eco-friendly coffees represent less than 2 percent of coffee consumption in developed markets.
Another Giovannucci authored study, "Sustainable Coffee Survey of the North American Specialty Coffee Industry," he estimates the Global market for sustainable coffee to be approximately $565 million retail for over a million 60 kilo (about 132 pounds) bags of green coffee beans.
http://www.eftafairtrade.org/Document.asp?DocID=391&tod=21534
It is estimated that growers of certified sustainable coffees can nearly double their income from otherwise depressed coffee prices. So economically challenged third world countries see small farmers adopting organic growing techniques as a ticket out of poverty and subsistence. Corporate buyers are attracted to sustainable growers by consumer goodwill and health concerns related to those organically grown coffees. This leads to dubious claims by some of the corporate coffee representatives and has lead to the need for certification authorities.
One group, Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) has been active in monitoring and certifying, auditing and verifying standards for sustainable coffees. Another, named Transfair USA, carries on similar activities in the American coffee market. Consumers are justifiably confused when many terms are applied to sustainable coffees and fail to differentiate between organic, eco-friendly, fair trade and sustainable terms.
Premium prices are sometimes supported by certification, labeling and monitoring by third-party organizations and sometimes by local governments such as the "Jamaica Coffee Industry Board." But some labeling is simply slick sales and PR by greedy corporations seeking premium prices for average coffee beans, so support for labeling initiatives and independent certification is growing.
Fair Trade and sustainable coffees are seeing increasing production in Central and South American growing regions, most notably in Mexico and Peru. Columbia has seen some pressure and attempts to divert production of cocaine with coffee crops for the fair trade market with little major success to report so far. Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia are big participants in sustainable coffees in Africa while East Timor, India and Indonesia are major supporters of sustainable coffee in Asia.
With the North American coffee market dominated by multinational giants Sara Lee, Kraft and Procter & Gamble, little interest has been shown in adopting sustainable coffee by major corporate coffee producers. Meanwhile, Brazil and Vietnam, the world's No. 1 and No. 2 coffee producers, respectively are flooding the market with poor quality beans and driving down coffee prices.
But major grocery chains are seeing demand for sustainable coffee and may adopt fair trade and organic coffees to sell nationwide at Safeway, Kroger and Albertson's stores. Increases in availability, demand and awareness of sustainable coffee are leading to more of the same in a spiraling increase for fair trade organic and shade coffees in premium markets. Some sustainable coffees are even finding their way into instant coffees, but the vast majority of the sustainable market is in premium and specialty markets.
© Copyright 2005 - http://www.TastesOfTheWorld.net
Tastes of The World coffee company http://www.tastesoftheworld.net focuses on specialty gourmet coffees which are not readily available in the United States. Rare Gourmet Coffee from Jamaica Blue Mountain to Kopi Luwak exotic and fine Italian Espressos from Illy and Marcafe as well as a selection of premium Puerto Rican coffees including Cafe Tres Picachos.
Come discuss your favorites in the coffee talk forums at http://www.tastesoftheworld.net/talk/
 Google News Updated : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:58:10 GMT Hurricane Omar gains strength and nears Puerto Rico - Reuters
Reuters - By John Marino SAN JUAN (Reuters) - Hurricane Omar strengthened on Wednesday as it bore down on Puerto Rico and the small islands of the northeastern Caribbean, and could be a "major" storm by the time it reaches them, US forecasters said. Omar on the Move. Paloma Next? Hurricane Omar heads for US Caribbean islands Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:12:36 GMT Polls: McCain forced to play defense in some red states - CNN
CNN - HEMPSTEAD, New York -- New polls out Wednesday in some crucial states that could decide the race for the White House suggest Sen. John McCain is having to defend himself in areas that once were reliably Republican. Union sues over policy banning political material at polling places Pollsters say odds of McCain winning election 'incredibly remote' Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:34:00 GMT AMR Plan to Buy 787s Will Update Fleet, Bolster Boeing Program - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Susanna Ray and Mary Schlangenstein Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- AMR Corp.'s American Airlines said it may buy as many as 100 Boeing Co. AMR overcomes fuel costs to squeeze out small profit AMR 3Q Net Down 74%, To Buy Up To 100 Dreamliners Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:24:10 GMT Migraine-hit Janet Jackson to resume US tour - Reuters
Reuters - By Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A rare form of migraine forced Janet Jackson to cancel several dates on her Rock Witchu concert tour but she planned to return to the stage on Wednesday in Washington, DC, her manager said. Jackson was laid low by migraines Janet Jackson: She's Baaaaack* Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:02:47 GMT It's officially over: Madonna and Guy Ritchie are divorcing - New York Daily News
New York Daily News - BY LEO STANDORA Madonna's marriage to Guy Ritchie really is kaput , her rep told the Daily News on Wednesday. "Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after 7 l/2 years of marrige," Liz Rosenberg said in a statement. Video: AP Exclusive: Madonna, Guy Ritchie to Divorce It's Official: Madonna And Guy Ritchie To Divorce Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:56:56 GMT Jerry Jones exposed as gutless by Goodell's ruling - FOXSports.com
FOXSports.com - by Ian O'Connor Ian O'Connor is the author of the New York Times bestseller "Arnie & Jack: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Golf's Greatest Rivalry," which Kirkus Reviews calls an "exemplary sports history. Video: Dallas' Adam Jones Suspended Again Give Cowboys credit for not counting on Adam 'Pacman' Jones too much Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:52:30 GMT Obama’s spending how much on ads? - Christian Science Monitor
Christian Science Monitor - By Jimmy Orr | 10.15.08 It’s been a week of non-surprises thus far. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones has been suspended - again. McCain calls for 'voter fraud' inquiry A stolen election? Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:03:33 GMT Display RSS Feeds on Your Website |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Ever wonder how to clean a coffee maker the right... Read More Few quests in human history have so captivated men and... Read More You can be a coffee lover without knowing much about... Read More Coffee roasters and those who roast, brew and serve the... Read More There are many refreshing iced coffee recipes available, and we... Read More From the year dot, my mother taught all her children... Read More For coffee lovers, there are few things more appealing than... Read More The Europeans got their first taste of Turkish Coffee, and... Read More Who doesn't love solving a good mystery? Is the Loch... Read More Gourmet coffee lovers have been seeing a few new terms... Read More In Guatemala coffee grows in the heart of what was... Read More Pure Kona Coffee is gourmet coffee grown only on the... Read More Coffee cupping is a method to compare the different characteristics... Read More In Kenya coffee production dates back several hundred years. Coffee... Read More Adultery, deceit and politics, all the makings of a modern-day... Read More Caffeine is big business. There are new coffee shops popping... Read More Depending on how we look at it, mocha coffee may... Read More A 2001 survey by the National Coffee Association indicated that... Read More Want to brew the perfect cup of coffee?Here are 3... Read More Coffee, in all sorts, could be a "pick me up... Read More Have you had the pleasure of tasting Starbucks new less... Read More Ahhhhh, coffee... a fantastic dark beverage that wakes us up... Read More Coffee enemas detoxify the liver, as well as cleans the... Read More Starbucks Coffee Company was founded in 1971 by three businessmen... Read More The American custom of taking break during the working hours.... Read More
Adsense
websites
How To Clean A Coffee Maker
10 Timeless Tips to a Perfect Cup of Coffee
Gourmet Coffee Beans
A Coffee Roaster For All Occasions
Iced Coffee Recipes for Enjoying Chilled Espresso, Thai Iced Coffee And Many More Variations
Coffee and Health
Mr. Coffee Versus Bunn-o-Matic - The Coffee Maker Battle Heats Up
Try the Tradition of Turkish Coffee and Taste the Difference
The Great Bean Mystery - Find the World?s Best Coffee
What is Sustainable Coffee and How Does it Affect My Wake Cup?
Coffee from Guatemala
Pure Kona Coffee
Coffee Cupping For The Fun Of It
Kenya Coffee History
Brazilian Coffee
11 Effects of Caffeine on The Body
Mocha Coffee: Learn About the Source and Try Our Recipes for Making Great Mochas
Make Money In Your Own Coffee Business
3 Simple Tips For Making Perfect Coffee
Gano Coffee - Can Coffee Be Good For You?
Starbucks Product Review
Coffee Is A Historic Beverage, And It Makes For A Great Gift
Are Coffee Enemas The Real Thing?
Starbucks Coffee Company
Coffee Breaks - Do They Create Stress?
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Cappuccino Secrets: Creating the Perfect Foam
Here is an article that tells the secret of creating... Read More
Extracting the Coffee Flavor
The beverage called coffee is the result of mixing dry... Read More
Creating the Perfect Foam
Most places that serve cappuccinos in the United States have... Read More
Campfire Coffee Recipes
Want to know a few secrets to making a good... Read More
What is Sustainable Coffee and How Does it Affect My Wake Cup?
Gourmet coffee lovers have been seeing a few new terms... Read More
History of Arabian Coffee
Arabian coffee is the quintessential coffee of the world. Arabia... Read More
A Coffee Roaster For All Occasions
Coffee roasters and those who roast, brew and serve the... Read More
Coffee and Health
From the year dot, my mother taught all her children... Read More
Coffee Is A Historic Beverage, And It Makes For A Great Gift
Ahhhhh, coffee... a fantastic dark beverage that wakes us up... Read More
10 Timeless Tips to a Perfect Cup of Coffee
Few quests in human history have so captivated men and... Read More
Russian Tea drinking - The beginning
It is believed history of Russian tea drinking tradition have... Read More
Make the Switch! Coffee to Tea
Having a hard time giving up your 4 cups of... Read More
Coffee Bean Roaster
The coffee bean roaster is fast becoming a "must have"... Read More
Coffee and Asthma?
Here are some facts about the relationship between coffee and... Read More
Choosing A Coffee Maker - Tips On Finding The Right Features
Choosing a good coffee maker is not a decision to... Read More
Coffee, A Brief Overview
The coffee plant has two main species. There is the... Read More
Why Your Cup of Coffee in the Morning May Keep You Up All Night
One of the most common complaints among coffee drinkers is... Read More
Starbucks Product Review
Have you had the pleasure of tasting Starbucks new less... Read More
What Makes Hawaiian Coffee So Special?
Coffee was first introduced to the Islands by Chief Boki,... Read More
Live the Life of a Civil War Soldier When you Drink your Mornin Coffee
Civil War soldiers, Confederate and Union, used to... Read More
Gourmet Coffee Habit Costing Consumers as Much as $1,500 Yearly
Gourmet coffee consumers rarely consider the cost of their daily... Read More
Flavored Coffee Syrup Adds A New Dimension To Beans
Flavored coffee syrup is a popular addition to any coffee... Read More
Coffee, Caffeine & Fitness
One look at a line at the local Starbucks in... Read More
Which Coffees are Highest in Antioxidants?
As researchers learn more about antioxidants with health and disease,... Read More
Coffee - Is It The Most Popular Beverage Of All Time?
Around 850 A.D it is thought that a lone shepherd... Read More
Coffee |