Title: Starbucks Fair Trade
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Content: We believe that Fair Trade is the most powerful and direct way for customers to help improve the lives of coffee farmers and their families around the world." "We are very excited about the opportunity to bring Fair Trade coffee certified by TransFair USA to our customers," said Dave Olsen, Starbucks senior vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility. " This program will provide an additional opportunity for Starbucks to have a meaningful impact on the working and living conditions faced by many who grow, harvest and process coffee throughout the world." Starbucks has already purchased and will roast and sell Fair Trade Certified coffees initially from both Guatemala and Nicaragua in calendar year 2000. Starbucks considers promoting Fair Trade Certified coffee as one of several promising approaches to improving the lives of coffee farmers and their families. Starbucks will continue its efforts with organizations that are helping coffee farmers and their families through support of CARE, Conservation International and other similar organizations. As part of Starbucks comprehensive strategy to support sustainable coffee production, the company also will expand its purchases of shade grown and organic coffees. Starbucks is committed to its goal of sourcing coffees of the highest quality that support a sustainable social, ecological and economic model for the production and trade of coffee. Starbucks believes that continued and growing participation with these organizations demonstrates our commitment to coffee producers and their families, communities and natural environment. TransFair USA, a non-profit agency, is the only organization providing independent, third-party certification of Fair Trade products in the US.