Dunkin' Donuts will become the first national brand to sell espresso beverages that are made exclusively with Fair Trade Certified?¢‚Äû¬¢ coffee. The company's decision is the latest step by Dunkin' Donuts to support coffee quality and sustainability amid troubling times for many coffee farmers.
Beans for all Dunkin' Donuts espresso beverages, including cappuccino and latte, will be certified through TransFair USA, the only independent certifier of Fair Trade products in the U.S. The Fair Trade model guarantees farmers a price of $1.26 per pound for coffee. This enables farmers to make a sustainable living and encourages them to invest in quality coffee crops.
"Our philosophy has always been to make high quality coffee accessible to as many people as possible," said Ken Kimmel, Vice President, Dunkin' Donuts Concepts. "Driving demand for quality helps farmers, and Dunkin' Donuts sells three million cups of quality coffee per day. Buying Fair Trade coffee for espresso beverages is another step we can take to strengthen relationships with the farmers who grow our coffee."