The coffee paradox
Subtitle: global markets, commodity trade and the elusive promise of development
By: Benoit Daviron and Stefano Ponte.
Contributors: Ponte, Stefano.
Publisher: Zed Books; Zed Books in association with the CTA; Distributed in the USA by Palgrave Macmillan
Published: 2005
Place of publication: London; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 295
Subjects: Coffee industry
Description: This book shows that the coffee paradox exists because what farmers sell and what consumers buy are becoming increasingly 'different' coffees. It is not material quality that contemporary coffee consumers pay for, but mostly symbolic quality and in-person services. As long as coffee farmers and their organizations do not control at least parts of this 'immaterial' production, they will keep receiving low prices. The Coffee Paradox seeks ways out from this situation by addressing some key questions: What kinds of quality attributes are combined in a coffee cup or coffee package? Who is producing these attributes? How can part of these attributes be produced by developing country farmers? To what extent are specialty and sustainable coffees achieving these objectives?
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.