http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2006/09/responsible-or-profiteering/ Rants and Raves on Espresso Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:30:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2006/09/responsible-or-profiteering/#comment-2799 Espresso News and Reviews - TheShot.coffeeratings.com » Trip Report: Barefoot Coffee Roasters Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:26:54 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/?p=263#comment-2799 [...] One of the things I really like about Barefoot is that they don’t succumb to the latest popularized specialty coffee trends. For example, some baristas have recently glommed on to the (not-so-new) Cup of Excellence phenomenon — as if Cup of Excellence-competing coffees have a monopoly on unique, distinctive, high-quality flavor profiles. But Barefoot knows there is plenty more out there to choose from, like Finca Hartmann. (We’ve arguably witnessed a similar phenomenon in the past year with socio/eco-conscious types discovering Fair Trade coffees en masse and attributing it with a monopoly on ethical and sustainable growing practices — putting a blind eye to Fair Trade’s many shortcomings and problems.) [...] [...] One of the things I really like about Barefoot is that they don’t succumb to the latest popularized specialty coffee trends. For example, some baristas have recently glommed on to the (not-so-new) Cup of Excellence phenomenon — as if Cup of Excellence-competing coffees have a monopoly on unique, distinctive, high-quality flavor profiles. But Barefoot knows there is plenty more out there to choose from, like Finca Hartmann. (We’ve arguably witnessed a similar phenomenon in the past year with socio/eco-conscious types discovering Fair Trade coffees en masse and attributing it with a monopoly on ethical and sustainable growing practices — putting a blind eye to Fair Trade’s many shortcomings and problems.) [...]

]]> http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2006/09/responsible-or-profiteering/#comment-417 Espresso News and Reviews - TheShot.coffeeratings.com » Does “Fair Trade” imply everything else is “Unfair Trade”? Fri, 29 Dec 2006 19:55:12 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/?p=263#comment-417 [...] “Look for the Fair Trade label” seems like the most obvious, simplistic strategy for the consumer who can only scratch the surface of this issue — in a busy life full of dizzyingly complex ethical consumer decisions. However, Fair Trade has also hurt a number of other coffee producers who hold practices at least as ethical and sustainable (locking them out of access to certain markets, placing conform-or-perish ultimatums on some family farms, etc.). Furthermore, Fair Trade itself is also rife with problems. For example, earlier this year, the London Financial Times reported on several problems with Fair Trade, including weak enforcement of certification, allowing farmers to plant in protected rainforests, and certifying growers who do not pay their employees a living wage. [...] [...] “Look for the Fair Trade label” seems like the most obvious, simplistic strategy for the consumer who can only scratch the surface of this issue — in a busy life full of dizzyingly complex ethical consumer decisions. However, Fair Trade has also hurt a number of other coffee producers who hold practices at least as ethical and sustainable (locking them out of access to certain markets, placing conform-or-perish ultimatums on some family farms, etc.). Furthermore, Fair Trade itself is also rife with problems. For example, earlier this year, the London Financial Times reported on several problems with Fair Trade, including weak enforcement of certification, allowing farmers to plant in protected rainforests, and certifying growers who do not pay their employees a living wage. [...]

]]> http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2006/09/responsible-or-profiteering/#comment-302 TheShot.coffeeratings.com » Trip Report: Lettüs Café Organic Fri, 15 Sep 2006 22:25:07 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/?p=263#comment-302 [...] I recently saw TV chef/personality, Anthony Bourdain, speak at the Commonwealth Club about (among other things) the subject of the organics movement. Pretty much his take, like my own, is that organics is only as good as the quality of the food it produces [starting at 28′ in the linked audio track]. Quality is much easier to verify than ideology or pedigree, given the recent woes with Fair Trade certification. So if the quality isn’t there, the organics label is worthless to me. [...] [...] I recently saw TV chef/personality, Anthony Bourdain, speak at the Commonwealth Club about (among other things) the subject of the organics movement. Pretty much his take, like my own, is that organics is only as good as the quality of the food it produces [starting at 28′ in the linked audio track]. Quality is much easier to verify than ideology or pedigree, given the recent woes with Fair Trade certification. So if the quality isn’t there, the organics label is worthless to me. [...]

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