3/16/2004

Protesters want more fair trade coffee at Starbucks

Lindsay Gebhart

Daily Kent Stater

The chocolate in your mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks could have been produced on a slave plantation in Africa, according to organicconsumers.org.

The farmers who produce the coffee you are drinking make less money per pound selling it on the market than it costs to produce, they say.

Brett Wilhelm is willing to do whatever it takes to change that.

Four weeks ago, Wilhelm, freshman applied conflict management major, started protesting across the street from the Kent Starbucks in an attempt to promote free trade coffee.

Wilhelm is not protesting on behalf of Brady’s Cafe, which formerly occupied the location on the corner of Lincoln Street and state Route 59.

“Something has got to happen,” Wilhelm said. “We want to start a dialogue about what’s going on to get things done. We at least want people to be conscientious consumers. (Starbucks) is a lightning rod for the community.”

He and a few of his friends have been giving away free fair trade coffee and literature Monday mornings.

After spring break, Wilhelm said he plans to change up which day of the week he goes out.

“That way more people in the community will see us, and it will give more people a chance to help out,” Wilhelm said. “I’m going to do it as long as I have friends to help me or until Starbucks starts selling all Fair Trade coffee.”

According to Starbucks’ 2002 corporate social responsibility annual report, the company purchased 1.1 million pounds of fair trade coffee that year, and it is sold in all U.S. company-operated stores. The report said Starbucks pays an average of $1.20 per pound for green coffee purchased at outright prices. Organicconsumers.org, however, said the minimum price for fair trade coffee is $1.26 a pound.

“I’m only a freshman; I don’t know everything about free trade,” Wilhelm said. “I’m not trying to demonize them — that is not going to be productive. They do some good. I won’t be satisfied ‘til they do all good.”

Time magazine reported this month that although Starbucks pays an average of $1.20 per pound, most of that cost is going toward international exporters who buy the coffee from middlemen. The magazine said Starbucks entered the fair trade market after being targeted four years ago for its “sweatshop coffee.”

“The CEO isn’t going to care about what I think,” Wilhelm said. “However, I’m patient. If they start selling the option all-day, everyday, it will be a small victory. However, its still only a concession.”

Greg Griffith, junior political science major, said he is willing to stand out in the cold with Wilhelm because he strongly believes in the issue.

“I’m angry,” Griffith said. “(Global workers) need a living wage. Exploitation means a huge margin of profit. Meanwhile, people are starving to death.”

Wilhelm said he doesn’t ask for donations. He supports his efforts by working on campus. However, sometimes people are not willing to take no for an answer. A couple weeks ago a woman gave him $20 because she liked what he was doing.

“She was so nice I wanted to cry,” Wilhelm said. “That’s a ton of money to help. (But donations) are not the point at all; it’s to raise awareness.”

For more information about when Wilhelm will be protesting in the future, e-mail him at wilhelmb@kent.edu.

E-mail: lgebhart@kent.edu