Speaking of Food–Coffee Ties the World Together (and Why Your Coffee Choices Matter)

Most adults in the USA drink coffee at least occasionally, but few know much about coffee’s social, economic, and environmental impacts. Globally, coffee is one of the world’s most valuable commodities, but it is produced by some of the poorest people. It has little nutritional value, yet it dominates some of the planet’s most fertile and lush landscapes, and many consumers consider it to be the most important element of their breakfast. These contradictions have spurred the growth of fair trade and certifications for coffee, and have also drawn attention to inequities and conundrums of international trade relationships. This presentation, by Catherine Tucker, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Indiana University Bloomington, will explore some of coffee’s contradictions, the ways that coffee production and consumption connects disparate peoples and places, and the implications raised for social, economic and environmental sustainability. Hoosier Fair Trade will have a table outside the event to offer free fair trade coffee and continue the conversation on the ethical issues that surround our favorite bean. The free public lecture is part of Speaking of Food, a lecture series presented in conjunction with, and sponsored by, Themester 2014’s “Eat, Drink, Think: Food from Art to Science,” an initiative of the IU College of Arts and Sciences.