Ethiopian coffee farmers to tour schools, speak to the public
ROSEMARY BEACH — Multinational coffee companies have built an industry worth more than $80 billion a year, and coffee has become the most valuable trading commodity in the world after oil. But until recent years, little of that money made its way to the root of the industry: the small farmer struggling to survive in places such as Ethiopia. That’s why Dan Bailey, owner of Panama City Beach-based Amavida Coffee and Trading Co., thinks it is important to tell the story of the cooperatives that have helped funnel more money toward the farmers and raise their standard of living. “It’s important to really understand how connected we are to the rest of the world through our purchases,” Bailey said, “for the public to understand how they buy and what they buy can help contribute” to efforts like eliminating poverty, creating sustainable businesses, and supporting education, health care and gender equality in developing nations. To that end, Amavida is hosting representatives of