Starbucks Becomes Fair Trade's Largest Buyer
Starbucks, TransFair USA and the Fairtrade Labeling Organizations (FLO) today announced a groundbreaking initiative that builds upon their organizations' shared history of support for small-scale coffee farmers.
Starbucks, one of the largest buyers of Fair Trade Certified™ Coffee, will double its purchases to 40 million pounds in 2009, making the company the largest purchaser of Fair Trade Certified™ coffee in the world. Marking a new phase in their, nine-year relationship, TransFair USA and FLO will join Conservation International as they become key partners in the Starbucks™ Shared Planet™ commitment to ethical sourcing.
As part of this commitment, Starbucks, TransFair USA and FLO will explore integrating the verification process for their respective programs. This will increase the efficiency of their individual audits and enhance the positive impact of the programs on small-scale coffee farmers, their communities and the environment.
