Coffee City
Melissa Allison tracks Seattle's — and the world's — caffeine addiction.
Comments (4)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
Starbucks opens delayed farmer support center in Rwanda
Posted by Melissa Allison
Starbucks will officially open a farmer support center in Rwanda on Monday.
When it initially announced plans for support centers in Rwanda and Ethiopia in late 2007, both were scheduled to open in 2008. The Ethiopian support center has not opened.
Like Starbucks' support center in Costa Rica, which opened in 2004, the Rwandan center will work with farmers, exporters and others to improve the quality of their coffee so that Starbucks can buy more of it.
It officially opens during a four-day visit by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and other executives. Their trip began today with meetings with local groups, including the Center for Treatment and Research, a research operation that houses the country's busiest and most demanding HIV clinic.
Patients there receive antiretroviral therapy, which is partly financed by a group called Red that raises funds to eliminate AIDS in Africa. Red has partnered with Starbucks, Converse, Hallmark and other companies.
This summer, Starbucks will contribute $1 to Red's global fund for every bag it sells of an East African coffee blend called Starbucks Red.
Starbucks stores also will offer products from Rwandan artisans, including African fabric tumblers and hand-sewn totes. They are coming to Starbucks through a company called Fair Winds Trading.
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
Nov 6, 09 - 5:30 PM
Cortona Cafe in Central District hosts grand opening party Saturday evening
Nov 6, 09 - 2:51 PM
Starbucks begins store redesigns in U.K., prompting Wall Street Journal to recall Schultz's offense to Lord Mandelson
Nov 6, 09 - 2:05 AM
Seattle's Best Coffee will sell four brewed coffee blends through Subway
Nov 5, 09 - 5:47 PM
Starbucks to put Seattle's Best Coffee in 9,000 U.S. Subway shops by year-end, Schultz says
Nov 5, 09 - 1:59 PM
Starbucks stock soars on fourth-quarter profit boost


- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Briefs | Soccer: New Mexico suspends hair-pulling player Elizabeth Lambert
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman
- Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
- Consortium on verge of owning Eastside railway land
- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police
- Heavy snow in Cascades shuts down roads
- Stormy weather to continue today in the Seattle area
- UCLA game thread
937 - Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
389 - Weapons, bomb-making materials found in suspect's apartment
332 - Troubling portrait emerges of Fort Hood suspect
286 - Decision day for health care in the House
193 - McGinn widens lead over Mallahan in Seattle mayoral race
183 - Schools emerge as new tactic in gay marriage votes
99 - Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
90 - Referendum 71 show's Washington's strategy for marriage equality is working
74 - Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman
71
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Consortium on verge of owning Eastside railway land
- Guest columnist | Cut the South Carolina jokes, Seattle. Get ready to compete
- Practical Mac | With new features, Apple's MobileMe is worth the price
- H1N1 vaccine for high-risk group coming to King Co. pharmacies
- Shoreline man killed when struck by falling tree part
- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police
- Movie review | 'An Education' you won't forget



