Great news!

Financial Times: "Coffee producers and four of the world's largest coffee companies will on Friday seal a far-reaching agreement to improve working conditions and environmental standards across their volatile industry... If fully implemented by all the parties involved, the code would cover an estimated 80 per cent of the international coffee market. But industry officials have warned that its impact may take years to be realised." Full story.

This is incredible news!

I'm sure there is still plenty more progress that can be made in terms of ensuring a fair deal for all the world's coffee producers, but this has to be seen as a major step forward.

I will continue to boycott the manufacturers in question (Nestlé, Sara Lee, Kraft Foods and Tchibo) and stick with products carrying the mark of the Fairtrade Foundation. This is because the Fairtrade mark is a guarantee of so many more things than what is being proposed by these other companies. Still, it goes to show what can be achieved...