The U.S. economy is regarded as one of the most successful economies in the world, owing to its technology and agricultural production. However, unlike many countries, the U.S economy is more dependable on service industries than agricultural production. Coffee is an agricultural product with diverse industrial use. While some companies use the product in flavoring, some use it to make beverages. Moreover, the product significantly contributes to the U.S. economy since many Americans are employed in coffee farms, processing plants, and fast-food companies such as Starbucks (Fariss). Rapid climate change and tough labor conditions make it difficult to produce more coffee in the U.S. Therefore, interrogating the factors that affect the coffee industry in the U.S is significant for the country and interested stakeholders.
Research Question
The coffee industry is multifaceted since it involves the production, processing, and selling of the final products to consumers. Therefore, the study will be guided by a set of questions that will interrogate the factors contributing to decreased coffee production, but increased sales in the U.S. The main research question for the study is: what economic, social, and political factors contribute to low levels of coffee production in the U.S.? The study is focused on the economic, social, and political factors since they impact any business. Meanwhile, the research sub-questions are:
- How has the U.S government failed in supporting coffee production in the U.S?
- What are the corporate social responsibilities of beverage companies in promoting local production of coffee in the U.S.?
- What are the social problems faced by coffee farmers and workers in the U.S.?
Research Purpose
The proposed study has various purposes that are crucial for U.S policymakers and the economy. Firstly, the research seeks to determine social, economic, and political factors that affect coffee production in the country. Policymakers and coffee companies can utilize the factors identified to improve the production of coffee. Secondly, the study will interrogate the problems faced by Americans working in the coffee industry. Consequently, suggested recommendations on improving employment conditions will be crucial to coffee industry employees. Finally, the study will explore existing literature on U.S coffee production and the consequent problems faced. Therefore, the study will help fill the gaps in the existing literature, contributing to academia.
Background of the Problem
Although a large part of the U.S lies outside the coffee belt, Puerto Rico, a U.S territory, and Hawaii were once high-volume coffee production areas. The industrial revolution increased the integration of technology in production and manufacturing (Rhiney et al.). Consequently, coffee is one of the crops that have been affected by rapid climate change in the U.S due to industrialization (Ortiz et al. 90-95). Meanwhile, the U.S. has been on record promoting minimum wage requirements which is detrimental to coffee industries (Ross and Welsh 193). Therefore, climate change caused by industrialization and high labor costs has made it difficult to produce high volumes of coffee in the U.S.
Introduction to Literature Review
Various literary works will be used in exploring the research question and adopting recommendations. An article by Zhou et al. is significant in exploring the research questions since it discusses the various factors that contribute to increased coffee demand but decreased supply in the global market. The article is crucial in identifying problems faced by coffee corporations in the U.S. Additionally, a study by Rhiney et al. expounds on the future of coffee production. The article is beneficial to the study since it provides recommendations for sustainable coffee production and consumption. Furthermore, Carter et al. account for political problems faced by coffee companies, focusing on Starbucks U.S. The article will help in making recommendations for involving corporations in promoting coffee production in the U.S.
Works Cited
Carter, David B., et al. “The Anatomy of Tragedy: Starbucks as a Politics of Displacement.” Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 2022. Web.
Fariss, Nissrine “Starbucks’ Dream of a Global Taste”. In The Routledge Handbook of Digital Media and Globalization. Routledge, 2021.
Ortiz, Andrea Monica D., et al. “A Review of the Interactions between Biodiversity, Agriculture, Climate Change, and International Trade: Research and Policy Priorities.” One Earth, vol. 4, no. 1, Jan. 2021, pp. 88–101. Web.
Rhiney, Kevon, et al. “Epidemics and the Future of Coffee Production.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118, no. 27, 2021. Web.
Ross, Jacqueline, and Welsh John. “Understanding the ‘Tipped Minimum Wage’: Critical Directions for US Policy Research.” Social Policy and Society, vol. 20, no. 2, 2021, pp. 192–210. Web.
Zhou, Rui, et al. “Coffee Supply Chain Planning under Climate Change.” Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, vol. 19, no. 1, 2022, pp. 1–15. Web.