User:Tb1739/sandbox

Critique an Article: Fair Trade Coffee
I believe that there could be more content on the criticisms of fair trade coffee. While the page provides a link to generalized fair trade criticisms, there could be more information specifically in regards to coffee. It could mention more about how fair trade coffee affects or is related to conventionally grown coffee, as well as alternative methods of measuring ethically grown coffee. I think it could also contain a section discussing the consumption of fair trade coffee, including consumer perceptions of fair trade coffee. Information on production is important but consumption is also a key aspect of coffee.

I was unable to access reference number 5. Reference number 9 also led to a page that was merely a list of more sources, which I do not think is specific enough to be listed as a reference.

Week 3: Potential Articles

 * 1) Fair Trade Coffee
 * 2) Banana Production
 * 3) Talk:Food policy
 * 4) Child Nutrition Act
 * 5) Talk:Agricultural economics

Week 4: Selected Article
I have chosen to write about Talk:Food policy. I think this is a relevant page to look at because food policy is a dynamic topic, which means that it is important to see if there is any information that is out of date. I think it would be interesting to talk about some US politicians that are notable in food policy, with information about what changes they may potentially make to the food system. This may work if the information is from credible sites, and if the politicians are directly quoted. Mentioning key players that are not politicians, for example economist Dambisa Moyo, could contribute to a better dialogue to add complexity to the topic of food policy. I also plan to check over the sources to ensure their credibility, while also trying to include additional sources. Information about global food policy is missing; I think it would be more precise if the title of the page was changed to Food Policy in the US, or more global issues were added. There are also many external links, which makes me wonder if shortening the information would be helpful since these topics already have their own page; ie, for more information on MyPlate, click here. It may lead to a more streamlined page on food policy.

Final Contribution: Criticisms of Fair Trade Coffee
There are also some criticisms of fair trade specific to coffee. Colleen Haight of the Stanford Innovation Review argues that fair trade coffee is merely a way to market the idea of ethical consumerism. Quality and transparency concerns regarding coffee are increasingly common amongst some consumers and coffee companies, as seen through the rise of the third wave coffee movement. Maintaining a balance between ethical and higher-quality coffee may be difficult with fair trade coffee due to what some coffee roasters deem as insufficient quality incentive within many fair-trade certified coffee farms. Deborah Sick’s research, involving interviews with coffee farmers in Costa Rica, finds that many farmers often produce more fair trade coffee than they can sell, so will often end up selling to independent buyers that will often pay more than fair trade buyers can. Some scholars are concerned of the artificial stimulation of coffee production, especially since worldwide demand for coffee is relatively inelastic.

Many who believe fair trade coffee is insufficient utilize the direct trade model, which allows for more control over quality concerns, farmer empowerment, and sustainability issues. It also is valuable in harboring closer farmer to roaster business relationships, which can ultimately increase quality of life and profits for coffee growers and buyers alike. However, direct trade is a new concept that is only utilized by for profit businesses like Counter Culture Coffee and Intelligentsia Coffee and therefore has no third party certification.

see number 9 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-wydick/10-reasons-fair-trade-coffee-doesnt-work_b_5651663.html