Coffee growers in revolt

Exporters say 5m bags of low grade beans must be destroyed to rescue farmers

Charlotte Denny, economics correspondent
Tuesday September 17, 2002
The Guardian

Coffee exporting countries said yesterday that up to 5m bags of low quality beans must be destroyed by the industry to halt the sharp decline in prices that threatens to ruin millions of poor farmers.
The International Coffee Organisation said its efforts to destroy the glut of poor quality beans, which has pushed prices to 30-year lows, depended on cooperation from the multinational companies that control the market: Nestlé, Sara Lee, Kraft and Procter & Gamble.

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