What ethical coffee-sourcing program did Starbucks launch in 2004?

Starbucks launched its Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices, known as C.A.F.E. Practices, in 2004.

The program was developed with Conservation International to evaluate coffee purchasing against social, environmental, and economic criteria. It was intended to encourage responsible coffee production and stronger relationships between Starbucks and coffee-growing communities.

C.A.F.E. stands for Coffee and Farmer Equity. The program is not the same thing as a single-country certification label or a claim that every Starbucks coffee comes from one farm. It is a sourcing standard and verification system covering issues such as coffee quality, farmer treatment, environmental practices, and economic transparency.