Is Starbucks Good Enough for the White House?

My colleagues at change.org are promoting an "Ideas for Change" conversation/competition in which citizens can submit an idea for a policy or program, discuss it with others, and vote on the best ideas from around the country. Just before Inauguration Day change.org will host a major event in Washington, DC and deliver the top 10 rated ideas to the Obama Administration. Then there will be a national lobbying campaign rallying around the winning ideas. (This photo is a group of Obama voters--I'm the one with the t-shirt and cupcake--after voting in the presidential election)

Here on my blog, on the left-hand side, you can vote for one of these ideas: declaring the White House a Fair Trade Zone. As catchy ideas go, this one is great. But as we mobilize interest and votes, I also want to throw out some questions. For instance, being a Washingtonian I know folks who work in the executive branch. They tell me that Starbucks is what is brewed at the White House, at least for official events. So, would it be enough for those voting for this idea to have Starbucks provide one of its Fair Trade blends in the White House? If so, this could be a pretty simple switch and we could spend our efforts using the moment to educate the Obama family and their staff as to why Fair Trade is important. OR, we could first get the agreement for Fair Trade coffee period, and then suggest a cupping so the Obama Family could chose their own preferred blends, including options from the fully committed world of Fair Traders who roast nothing but Fair Trade.

In other words, what do we mean by "Fair Trade zone?" What's enough commitment from the new residents of the White House? And will we stop at coffee? What about tea? Bananas?

As an incrementalist, I am leaning to the easy "win" of having the White House catering staff ask Starbucks to serve their Estima and proudly show the Fair Trade certified label. BUT....I wouldn't want any superficial acceptance of the idea by staff, without backing it up with education and an opportunity to highlight those companies that go beyond Starbucks commitment, and to get other items, including non-certified crafts, in the door. To be declared a Fair Trade town, a community has to meet a set of criteria. What level of commitment will we challenge the White House residents to embrace?

I'd welcome comments about the best approach here or at change.org. And, of course, check out all the ideas (change.org is concerned with a range of progressive issues) and cast your votes!