Where Am I Eating: Part 1- Coffee: Product of Colombia

 Where Am I Eating

Part 1- Coffee: Product of Colombia


Close Reading and Socratic Circle Questions:

**Chapter 1: The Starbucks Experience

1. What influence has American culture had on coffee exports and the lives of farmers?

2. Comparing Juan Valdez to Starbucks- what are the strengths and weaknesses of each model?

3. Empresas de Narino had good intentions by giving away beneficios to lucky farmers, but it is clear their actions have not helped in the long run. What role should coffee companies have in continuing education for their farmers? What could that model look like?

4. What is it about the geography and climate of Colombia that makes it ideal for coffee?

5. Since the beginning of coffee in Ethiopia to its evolution to Central and South America, climate has played a major role in coffee. How is climate changing the coffee boom in present day?

6. Because of climate and politics, there has been a shift of coffee farms moving from Central and South America to places as far off as Vietnam. How does this impact the lives of farmers in Colombia? How does it impact the lives of farmers in non-traditional coffee growing locations? 

**Chapter 2: The Grande Gringo Picks Coffee

7. Nespresso, operated by the European company Nestle, is beginning to take the lead in Colombia where Starbucks has fallen short. Is there a difference in U.S. regulations and standards and European regulations and standards that has made this possible?

**Chapter 3: The Cup of Excellence

8. Using the definition of child labor as defined by the International Labor Organization, why are child labor laws important? How has it impacted trade agreements? Is it fairly monitored?

9. The New Free Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Colombia doesn't affect coffee because it is already tariff-free; however, what are the human rights implications with the new Free Trade Agreement? Could the agreement hurt or help coffee farmers?

10. Starbucks C.A.F.E. third party inspectors practice has led to not so different conditions that non-C.A.F.E. practices, through clever marketing has continued to make Westerners feel good. How has Western popularity of fairness in purchasing hurt farming? How has it helped?

**Chapter 4: The Heart of the World

11. The Fair Trade movement and co-ops work well with the Arhuaco because of their belief in not taking more than you give. How has our thirst for more at cheap prices impacted the environment and balance of the land?

12. As monoculture farming has continued to take a toll on the land, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have been one way to continue to reproduce food in abundance; yet research shows that the impact GMOs have on land and people is more negative than positive. Seventy percent of processed foods consist of GMOs, but there is no ban or required labeling of GMOs in the U.S. How often do you consume GMOs? How does that consumption impact "man and land"?


Reference:

"What We Can Learn About Sustainable Inclusion From Colombian Coffee - Opinion - Chinadaily.Com.Cn". Chinadaily.Com.Cn, 2021, https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2016-09/21/content_26850523.htm. Accessed 26 Jan 2021.



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