There has been a unique collation form in Canada amongst fair trade worker co-operative.  Find below the initial release from the Canadian Alliance of Fair Trade Worker Co-operatives.

DECLARATION OF SOLIDARITY
September 30, 2009

The Canadian Alliance of Fair Trade Worker Co-operatives enthusiastically endorses and supports the aims and goals of the First National Forum of Fair Trade and Organic Products in Mexico (Sept. 29, 30, Oct. 1, 2009).

We recognize that the fair trade movement must focus on small producers and that the strengthening of organizations like Comercio Justo Mexico and CLAC are essential to ensuring the integrity of fair trade.  We represent worker co-operative businesses which are dedicated to the development of the Canadian fair trade market. We are committed to being 100 percent fair traders in Canada and to supporting the efforts of small producers around the world.

Congratulations and best wishes.

Planet Bean Coffee, Sumac Community Worker Co-operative, Guelph, Canada
Justus! Coffee Roasters Co-operative, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Contact:
Bill Barrett  bill@planetbeancoffee.com
259 Grange Road, Unit 2 Guelph, ON, Canada N1E 6R5

Well, Starbucks is in the news again.  It seems the stories just keep popping up everywhere!  Just this past week, a new advertising campaign began with Nescafes Tasters Choice instant coffee.  The campaign basically questions why exactly it is that Starbucks instant coffee sticks are costing consumers about 400% more than Nescafes Tasters Choice brand.

But……there is a far more interesting story here, and the one the title of this post speaks to.  Often enough, when walking into small cafes, I wonder just how clean the facility is kept.  Are the coffee pots cleaned regularly?  What kind of sanitization procedures are used when cleaning dishes used by customer?  Well, it seems that it isn’t just the smaller stores that seem a little unkempt that we should be worrying about!

A Chicago Starbucks location, the shop located at O’hare International Airport has been shut down by the Daily Dumpster task force.   The problem with the shop first came to light on June 4th when health inspectors paid an impromptu visit to the shop.  An infestation of flies was found……flies were everywhere and inspectors ordered the Stabucks management to correct the problem within five days.  Well, five days passed and the inspectors returned only to find that the problem had not been corrected at all!  In just a matter of minutes, inspectors counted no less than 40 flies on the ceiling, walls and around sink drains.

The Starbucks was cited for inadequate pest control and failing to correct a serious violation.  How management would overlook such a problem in the first place is beyond me.  It seems this is simply an example of corporate management and lack of care.  Fortunately, the shop will be required to undertake a complete pest removal program and will have to be inspected once again by city health inspectors before it can reopen for business in the airport.

Sickening, isn’t it?  A massive corporate coffee giant being the dirtiest cafe around!

Some pretty funny comments posted on a couple of news stories about this:

• Elmotot wrote:
  ill take a grande mocha “LARVAE” and a piece of raspberry lemon cake….YUK!!
• Placidian wrote:
  Waiter, there’s a fly in my soy latte!
  gross. =(
• swag wrote:
  But a recent Zagat survey shows customers of fast food coffee places prefer Starbucks’ flies to the flies of their competitors.