Poor Farmer

Starbucks lobbyist Rosa Whitaker appeared on the Ethiopian Television (ETV) today to defend Starbucks’ actions against Ethiopia. Whitaker, former Assistant US Trade Representative for Africa under both Presidents Clinton and Bush Administrations, said that Ethiopia and Starbucks share the same goal - they both want to increase the farmer's income. “I am confident that the issue is going to be resolved soon," she added. Interestingly, Whitaker stated that the Trade Mark vs. GI issue is just a distraction that takes the focus away from more important things. Whitaker said that she supports GI (certification); that she's seen it work- it has a lot of power. Though unrelated to the trademark dispute between Ethiopia and Starbucks, she did not waste time to assure the interviewer that Starbucks is a good company to work for - a CSR company. Starbucks hired the Washington based lobbying firm, The Whitaker Group to advance the company’s interests internationally, most particul...

Starbucks meets African farmers halfway Marketplace American Public Media Thursday, February 15, 2007 LISTEN TO STORY Under public pressure from social activists, Starbucks has announced that it will double the amount of coffee it purchases from East Africa by 2009 — but it won't necessarily pay more for it. TEXT OF INTERVIEW SCOTT JAGOW: Starbucks is reaching out to coffee farmers in Ethiopia. Our correspondent Stephen Beard is working on this story. Stephen, what did Starbucks announce today? STEPHEN BEARD: Starbucks has unveiled a whole package of measures which they say is going to help East African farmers and, in particular, Ethiopian farmers. First of all they're going to double the amount of coffee they buy from the region. They're going to increase to $35 million the amount of money they're going to spend buying East African coffee over the next two years. In addition, they're going to provide affordable credit, they're setting up a farmers support cent...

By Getachew Dibaba The Ethiopian Herald ADDIS ABABA -Oxfam America expressed hope that Starbucks, an international coffee retailer and roaster company, would negotiate a solution with the Ethiopian government on the country’s claim to its coffee trademarks as the company takes part in the 4th East African Fine Coffee Conference and Exhibition opening here today. In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald earlier this week, Oxfam America Horn of Africa Regional Director Abera Tola and Coffee Programme Manager Seth Petchers said that Starbucks had to use the opportunity to change its position and recognize the interest of Ethiopia and its coffee farmers. “We hope Starbucks to take the opportunity of being in Addis to sit down with the government and come to an agreement that works for both parties,” Petchers said. Alain Poncelet, Vice President and Managing Director of Starbucks Coffee Trading Company, is expected to deliver a keynote address at the conference. It is the second ...

By David Mageria Reuters Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:56am ET ADDIS ABABA, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Africa's top coffee growers backed Ethiopia on Thursday in its trademark row with Starbucks (SBUX.O: Quote , Profile , Research ), saying securing the protection rights for various crops and plants could lift millions from poverty. Ethiopia and the British charity Oxfam have accused the U.S.-based coffee shop giant of blocking Ethiopia's attempts to trademark its beans, denying farmers there potential income of more than $90 million. "We are dealing with the issue of improving the lives of millions of people," Sindiso Ngwenya, deputy secretary-general of the 20-member Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, told Reuters at a major coffee meeting in Addis Ababa. "Make no mistake, (we) support Ethiopia because we are not only dealing with coffee but also with a wide range of products." The dispute escalated on Thursday when Ethiopia said it could take action against the...

A Pilgrimage to the Birth Place of Coffee The 4th EAFCA conference opened today in the Ethiopian Capital, Addis Ababa and will continue through February 17, 2007. The conference is being held at the United Nations Conference Centre, Addis Ababa (UNCC-AA) and its theme is appropriately named, “A pilgrimage to the birthplace of coffee!” The international five-star conference and exhibition has created the best opportunity for networking for the record number of more than 60 international coffee companies gathered in the city. Dub Hay, Starbucks Senior VP, Coffee & Global Procurement, is the keynote speaker. Below is the complete list of registered participants. ----- Also read the following recent posts: ~ Chin up, Schultz tells workers, don't let critics get you down (Feb 14, 2007) ~ Starbucks says it wants to help Ethiopian farmers (Feb 14, 2007) ~ EIPO calls the first trademark stakeholders meeting “historic” (Feb 14, 2007) ~ Starbucks to buy more East African coffee (Feb ...