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OCA's Response to Starbucks Latest Form Letter Response to
Consumers
Note from the Organic Consumers Association: As revealed in the
8/23/01 statement below, Starbucks is moving closer to meeting
some of the OCA's demands. They are finally saying they oppose
the development, and will not use, genetically engineered coffee
beans which are engineered for ripening at the same time. We are
happy to see this. But we are also demanding that they voice their
opposition to the use of all genetically engineered coffee beans
in the future--including decaffeinated GE beans--and so far they
have refused to do so. Even more important Starbucks is still
stone-walling on the issues of (1) removing rBGH and all genetically
engineered ingredients from their coffee beverages, bottled Frappuccino
drinks, chocolates, ice cream, and baked goods; (2) brewing certified
Fair Trade coffee as the "coffee of the day" at least
one day a week in all of their cafes; and (3) disconnecting from
sweatshop coffee suppliers--i.e. guaranteeing that they are paying
fair wages to all of the small farmers and farmworkers who supply
their coffee.
On the positive side Stabucks: (1) has stopped making statements
defending the safety of rBGH, and have started using terms like
"rBGH-tainted" milk; (2) they have begun offering organic
milk and soy milk (although it is "optional" and costs
a ridiculous 40 cents more per cup) in all their US cafes and
test-marketing, at least in a few cities, organic baked goods
in their cafes; (3) they have for the first time brewed Fair Trade
coffee as the coffee of the day in most or all their USA cafes
on two different days during the last 11 months; (4) they are
promoting Fair Trade and now organic bulk coffee beans more than
they did before; and (5) they are now publicly saying they will
brew Fair Trade coffee on an "ongoing" (whatever that
means is not clear) basis; and finally (6) they are saying they
will offer Fair Trade coffee beans in (bulk form) all their cafes
overseas, as well as in the USA.
In other words, Starbucks is moving in the right direction, even
if they still have a long way to go. In the meantime the OCA and
our allies intend to carry on and expand our Frankenbuck$ Campaign.
On September 17-23 we are organizing leafleting and protests in
300 cities across the USA--as well as in Canada, UK, Australia,
New Zealand, and other nations. We expect that over time, Starbucks
will see the light, and give in to our demands, but only when
they feel that they must. If you can help us leaflet a Starbucks
in your local area, please contact us <simon@organicconsumers.org
and we'll send you leaflets and an organizers' packet.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Starbucks' Current Form Letter to Consumers:
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001
Dear Jane Doe:
Thank you for your messages regarding some of Starbucks coffee
purchasing policies. Starbucks has made an enormous commitment
to the goal of improving the lives of farmers and their families
in the countries where we do business. We are proud of the role
we have played as a company in popularizing high quality coffee
for which we and other specialty coffee companies pay premium
prices to farmers in origin countries. Specialty coffee companies
pay much higher prices than traditional coffee companies and Starbucks
is one of, if not the highest paying company. In addition, we
are proud of the numerous in-country improvements in which we
have been involved in origin countries such as building schools,
health clinics and coffee processing facilities. We are also
pleased with the success we have had in developing on-going partnerships
throughout the world that address social, environmental and economic
needs.
Starbucks coffee contains no GMOs and is not derived from genetically
modified sources. We do not support the development of GM ripening-controlled
coffee which would be harvested mechanically and have no intention
of purchasing such coffee in the future. Further, we believe
that the introduction of this technology would be very damaging
to millions of small farmers and farm workers whose main source
of income depends on handpicked coffee. So long as this condition
exists, Starbucks will not support this technology.
Regarding Fair Trade coffee, as you may know Starbucks sells
Fair Trade certified coffee in the US through a licensing agreement
with TransFair USA. Currently, we sell whole bean Fair Trade
coffee in over 2500 company-owned stores and on the internet,
and Fair Trade coffee - for brewing - to college and university
accounts, and hotels and restaurants across the country. Unfortunately,
we have not found an adequate supply of high quality Fair Trade
coffee to brew system-wide on a regular basis, but any customer
can request brewed Fair Trade coffee in any company-owned store
in the U.S. We intend to offer Fair Trade certified coffee in
all of our markets worldwide and are awaiting the development
of an international certification mark and global licensing and
labeling agreement by the international FairTrade Labeling Organization.
This would repose the existing and costly requirement for unique
licensing and labeling by country and would expedite our ability
to offer Fair Trade coffee in international markets. We will
certainly be happy to keep you apprised of the progress we are
making in this area as more information becomes available.
To learn more about Starbucks participation in social responsibility,
please visit our website at http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/csr.asp.
Thank you for your interest in Starbucks Coffee Company. Please
feel free to contact us if you have additional questions.
Sincerely,
Jaime B. Customer Relations Starbucks Coffee Company
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