Starbucks is making efforts to source more ethical coffee beans through their C.A.F.E Practices program, offering better prices to farmers while improving growing practices. Although these steps have helped improve the quality of coffee produced, more needs to be done in this regard.

Starbucks strives to be an ethical corporate citizen, taking steps to support both farmers and the environment. Unfortunately, due to their size, they find it hard to provide real support to small farms; having to buy in large volumes reduces prices for producers while restricting their ability to monitor what is actually happening on thousands of small farms is a limitation of sorts for them.

But I have witnessed some small independent coffee shops who take a more hands-on approach when it comes to bean sourcing and have developed relationships with their suppliers – this approach would be the way forward and I wish all coffee shops followed it.

Starbucks’ contribution to shade-grown coffee cultivation stands out. They’ve been working with Conservation International since 1998 to protect El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas, Mexico; as part of this partnership they offer Organic Shade Grown Mexico at most Starbucks locations – look out for its solid green packaging (it used to have light green packaging with pictures of birds);

Starbucks Organic coffee is certified organic and grown under various shade trees. As the only major roaster in North America to offer this offering, this eco-friendly option makes a delicious yet cost-effective cup of java.

Although I have yet to come across any objective information regarding this project’s results, it appears to have had a positive effect. Farmers involved often struggle to find other buyers; through this partnership they now receive regular income while being encouraged to continue eco-friendly growing practices to qualify for future CI/Starbucks projects.