The Growing Call For Ethically Sourced Coffee – CoffeeTalk

Coffee has become a significant aspect of American culture, evolving from a symbol of patriotism following the Boston Tea Party to a staple in informal business meetings, ultimately making the U.S. the leading country in coffee consumption. However, coffee’s history is complex and intertwined with slavery, exploitation, and environmental degradation, as noted by Dr. Mauricio Espinoza, an expert in Latin American culture and coffee history. He argues that consumers should prioritize fair trade products that ensure equitable wages and minimize ecological harm from unsustainable coffee production practices.

Espinoza shares his personal connection to coffee, having been born in a coffee mill in Costa Rica and worked on farms from a young age. He highlights the labor-intensive nature of coffee harvesting, which typically occurs from September to February, requiring workers to pick ripe coffee cherries multiple times due to staggered ripening. Additionally, he discusses the migration patterns driven by coffee production, identifying Brazil’s historical reliance on immigrant labor following the abolition of slavery in the late 1800s and the subsequent pressures on coffee-growing communities from fluctuating prices and climate change.

The collapse of the International Coffee Agreement in 1989 devastated economies reliant on coffee, leading to increased migration to the U.S. from these regions. During America’s industrial revolution, coffee also played a pivotal role in enhancing worker productivity. Today, consumers are seeking higher quality, ethically sourced coffee, as the majority available is commodity coffee from large corporations, which complicates accountability.

Robb Pearson, now Director of Coffee at Windmill Coffee, emphasizes the importance of ensuring that coffee growers receive fair compensation for their labor. He notes that companies like Windmill Coffee focus on building relationships with farmers and exporters to ensure quality and fair pay. Pearson argues that while cheap coffee is readily available, consumers’ willingness to pay more for ethically sourced, high-quality coffee can create a positive impact on the industry, ensuring better conditions for producers and indirectly supporting their communities.

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