World Food Program USA and Starbucks Coffee Company Partner to Boost Food Security of Guatemala’s Coffee Farmers
Washington, D.C. (April 3, 2025) – World Food Program USA and Starbucks Coffee Company are pleased to announce a new collaboration in support of a World Food Programme initiative to improve the resilience, food security, and nutrition of coffee-growing communities in Guatemala, connected to Starbucks supply chain.
“We are at a critical moment in the fight against hunger as farmers around the world are shouldering growing burdens from rising costs and extreme weather events,” said Barron Segar, World Food Program USA president and CEO. “We are proud to join forces with Starbucks, a leader in innovation and sustainability, to reinforce efforts to ensure coffee farming families in Guatemala have access to the nutritious foods they need to thrive year-round.”
The two-year program focused on food security will help 600 households — about 3,000 people — diversify family incomes and enhance access to nutritious food, with a strong focus on indigenous women and children. Through tailored, hands-on training, participants will gain vital entrepreneurial skills to expand business opportunities, strengthen agricultural value chains, and promote healthy lifestyles in their communities.
This investment builds on Starbucks commitment to working with coffee farmers worldwide to improve livelihoods through sustainability, increased farmers’ incomes, and supporting families in accessing the resources they need — such as food access.
“As a global company that works with more than 400,000 coffee farms, we are proud to invest and support programs that strengthen our promise to farmers to ensure a sustainable future of coffee for all—underscoring the decades-long commitment that we’ve made to coffee farmers and farming communities,” shared Kelly Goodejohn, Starbucks chief social impact officer. “We are honored to join efforts with World Food Program USA to create valuable impact for coffee growing communities in Guatemala by improving nutrition and the resiliency of food access.”
Starbucks was one of the first in its industry to establish an open sourced verification program in 2004, designed to promote transparent, profitable, and sustainable coffee growing practices while also protecting the well-being of coffee farmers. In Guatemala, where farmers are navigating long dry seasons, poor soil, and insufficient access to credit, partnerships with organizations like World Food Program USA are an important part of Starbucks holistic approach to helping improve farmer resilience and stability.
For more information on the World Food Programme’s work in Guatemala, visit wfp.org/countries/guatemala.
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About World Food Program USA
World Food Program USA, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, D.C., proudly supports the mission of the World Food Programme by mobilizing American policymakers, businesses, and individuals to advance the global movement to end hunger. Our leadership and support help to bolster an enduring American legacy of feeding families in need around the world. To learn more about World Food Program USA’s mission, please visit wfpusa.org/mission-history.
About Starbucks
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 40,000 stores worldwide, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at about.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com.
Media Contacts
Andrea Girón, World Food Programme, Guatemala
Andrea.giron@wfp.org l Móvil: +502 3007 4762
Chris McKenna, World Food Program USA
cmckenna@wfpusa.org
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