Poor Farmer

"We have seen a growing trend in the industry for geographic indicators." - Scott McMartin, Starbucks' green coffee sustainability director "Most of the geographical indicators exist in the developing countries. …Increasingly, consumers are much more aware. …In most cases, geographical indicators integrate a series of standards, they allow for rural development." - Daniele Giovannucci, team leader for the United Nations International Trade Center By Marcy Nicholson Reuters (via Guardian ) March 7, 2008 AVENTURA, Fla.(Reuters) - Starbucks Corp, the world's largest coffee chain, is set to sell an exclusive coffee from Rwanda on the international market for the first time, a spokesman said, as consumer demand for origin-specific flavors grows. The bean, which carries a hint of cocoa, is called Rwanda Blue Bourbon. Grown at an altitude of 1,700 to 2,000 meters (5,000 to 6,000 feet) in Cyangugu Province, it will be sold as whole beans in Europe and Asia by early ...

By Jason McLure Bloomberg March 7, 2008 Ethiopian premium coffee grades rose 8.9 percent to 16 percent in the 30 days through Feb. 7, as exports more than doubled, the Agriculture Ministry said. The price for Harar Grade Five rose 16 percent to $4,231.38 a metric ton during the period, which corresponds with the fifth month of the Ethiopian calendar. Yirgacheffe Grade 2 climbed 15 percent to $4,632.08 a ton and Sidamo Grade 2 increased 8.9 percent to $3,536.64 a ton, the ministry said in an e-mailed statement from the capital, Addis Ababa, today. Total coffee exports from Africa's largest producer of the beans more than doubled during the month to 12,722 tons, the ministry said. The value of exports was $40.3 million, from $17 million a month earlier, the ministry said. Saudi Arabia, Germany, and the U.S. were the three largest buyers of Ethiopian coffee during December, accounting for more than half of the country's sales during the month, it said. Coffee is Ethiopia's l...