Coffee News Roundup: Week Ending June 14th

Coming soon (probably): Howard! The Musical

This week, in coffee:

• The International Coffee Organization and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization have proposed a new fund to support the coffee sector, particularly smallholder farmers. The report proposes the creation of a fund to lead “new concrete efforts to strengthen climate adaptation measures and foster sustainability in the Coffee Global Value Chain,” according to a press release.

• Starbucks is launching its own production studio, in order to “produce original entertainment and tell stories that deepen connections and spark conversations.” They probably won’t be making feature films, but I came up with a bunch of titles just in case—Behind the Apron, Love in the Time of Oleato, Citizen Howard. Got any better ideas? Put ‘em in the comments!

• Rudy Giuliani is bankrupt and facing a huge defamation judgement, so he started a coffee grift company. Now it turns out that the roasting company that provides his coffee is also bankrupt. He just can’t catch a break.

• A week after workers announced their intent to unionize, Philadelphia-based OCF Coffee House abruptly and permanently closed all three locations citing falling sales and the union drive itself as reasons. “This does feel like retaliation,” barista and assistant manager Ava Alabiso told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

For more on these stories, check out the whole roundup over at Fresh Cup Magazine:

I’ll be back on Friday with a new article, but until then it’s goodbye from Merlin, who is off to do a bit of shopping: