Victory for Ethiopian Coffee Farmers

Ethiopia has been seeking trademark for it's coffees, Sidamo, Harar, and Yirgacheffe. Last summer Starbucks prompted the National Coffee Association to file an opposition to Ethiopia's application for trademark. Because of this the US Patent and Trademark Office rejected the application. Since then Oxfam America has led a campaign urging Starbucks to sign the agreement. And it was just announced that Starbucks has signed a distribution, marketing and licensing agreement that recognizes Ethiopia’s right to control the use of its specialty coffee brands. This is a great victory for the farmers and could bring them millions more in annual revenue. Yes!!!