Hunger and Justice in the Coffeelands
After the Harvest Film and Reflection
After the Harvest (2011, dir. Brian Kimmel), a short film which premiered at an event held by the Speciality Coffee Association of America, brings to light the challenge of hunger that has been pervasive in coffee growing communities, but largely unknown to the specialty coffee industry (“After the Harvest”).
As we consider issues of coffee and justice, this film, which centers the experiences of Mexican, Nicaraguan, and Guatemalan coffee farmers, can help us understand our connection to those who grow the coffee consumed in the US (including the coffee that you may enjoy!), the injustices that these workers often experience, and what can be done to make change. This film also touches on several other issues of justice in coffee, providing a starting point to explore these issues more deeply.
In this lesson, you will watch the film and reflect on various aspects of coffee and justice. Then, you will choose to focus on one justice issue presented in this film, including:
the relationship between hunger and migration
the role of women coffee farmers
the effect of material poverty in coffee-growing communities on children
the human and ecological impact of crop diversification and shade grown coffee
You will explore your chosen topic with clips from other films and/or readings, and prepare a short summary to share with the class how this topic added to your understanding of coffee and justice.
Prepare
Before watching the film, think about what you know about coffee and respond to the following questions.
From your perspective, what role does coffee play in US culture? What role does it play in your life and/or in the lives of your family and friends?
Consider what you know about coffee and its origins: Where is coffee grown?, Who harvests it?, What are the challenges that workers face? If you do not know much about coffee, what would you like to know?
WATCH the documentary film
Review the following RESPOND questions before watching, take notes as you watch, and then complete the questions.
RESPOND
What are your initial reactions after watching? Which scene stood out to you the most? How come?
What is meant by “los meses flacos” (the thin months)? What are some specific examples of the struggles farmers experience at this time?
How often do most coffee farmers get paid? How does this contribute to hunger?
Justina talks about how, when she was young, they had everything in abundance (3:45). In the present, she and her family experience food scarcity. What role has specialty coffee played in this change?
What are some of the solutions that coffee cooperatives and nonprofits like Save the Children and Heifer International propose? What effect are they having?
Many coffee farmers that experience hunger migrate to other lands in search of work to support their families. What impacts does migration have on families and communities left behind?
Why do you think the specialty coffee industry has previously been little aware of hunger? Some possible reasons were mentioned in the film, but feel free to add your own ideas as well.
How does an investment in addressing hunger in the coffeelands improve the quality of specialty coffee?
Some of the key ideas in addressing hunger in the coffeelands from an industry and consumer perspective include recognizing our relatedness (16:27), seeing this “in terms of a human issue, a one-on-one issue” (9:50), and considering the difference between “real-developmental impact” and “charity” (19:30)? Choose one of these key ideas (or another from the film) and explain what it means in your own words.
What questions about coffee, justice, and/or hunger came up for you after watching?
EXPLORE
This film touches on several themes of coffee and justice. Think about what you would like to learn more about and choose ONE of these topics to explore, and read/watch the resources in that section.
After selecting an option, prepare a written response (200 words) to share in class. This response should include:
1) a summary of your clip/reading
2) a reflection on what most surprised or interested you and how it adds to your understanding of issues of coffee and justice
3) a connection you noticed between After the Harvest and your chosen topic
(A) What is the relationship between hunger and migration?
Brewing_Justice_Fair_Trade_Coffee_Sustainability_a..._ - - _(6._Eating_and_Staying_on_the_Land_Food_Security_and_Migration) (1)_removed.pdfBrewing Justice by Daniel Jaffee looks at the challenges and merits of fair trade and organic coffee through research done in the Michiza coffee cooperative of Oaxaca, Mexico
(B) How does poverty in coffee-growing communities affect children?
Black Gold, directed by Nick Francis and Marc J. Francis, reveals the disconnect present between coffee consumers and producers, and the unseen injustices that producers experience.
Learn more on the Black Gold website.
(C) What is the role of women in coffee-growing communities?
The film Gender in Coffee is shared by the organization Equal Origins. This film "follows the story of women and men of a coffee value chain, from Chiapas (Mexico) to Texas, and their thoughts on gender roles, masculinity, women’s coffee, and many other relevant issues in the gender conversation" (STiR Coffee and Tea Magazine).
(D) How does crop diversification and shade grown coffee provide a solution to seasonal hunger, as well as healthier farms?
Connected by Coffee, directed by Aaron Dennis, tells stories of coffee cooperatives from Mexico to Nicaragua and shows how "equitable trading relationships are helping empower communities and take a step towards social justice" (Passion River Films).
Brewing_Justice_Fair_Trade_Coffee,_Sustainability,..._ - - _(5._A_Sustainable_Cup_Fair_Trade,_Shade-Grown_Coffee,_and_Organic_Produ...)_removed.pdfBrewing Justice by Daniel Jaffee looks at the challenges and merits of fair trade and organic coffee through research done in the Michiza coffee cooperative of Oaxaca, Mexico
Thank you for your hard work in engaging with these sources!
We hope you found this film useful in adding to your awareness of justice issues in coffee and enjoyed deepening your understanding by exploring a topic of your choice. Please bring your reflection to class and be prepared to share with others.
References
After the Harvest. “After the Harvest: The Fight Against Hunger in the Coffeelands: About the Film.” https://aftertheharvestorg.blogspot.com/p/home.html.
After the Harvest: Fighting Hunger in the Coffeelands. Directed by Brian Kimmel, Optic Nerve Productions, 2013.
Black Gold. Directed by Nick Francis and Marc J. Francis, Speakit Productions, 2006.
Black Gold Movie. “The Story.” https://blackgoldmovie.com/story.
Connected by Coffee. Directed by Aaron Dennis, Bayview Entertainment, 2014.
CRS. “Home” https://www.crs.org/home.
Equal Origins. “Home.” https://equalorigins.org/.
Gender in Coffee - A Documentary, Directed by Xavier Hamon and Hannah Stapleton, 2018.
Jaffee, Daniel. Brewing Justice: Fair Trade Coffee, Sustainability, and Survival. Updated edition. U of California P, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520957886.
McQuillan, Dan, “Coffee Farmers Face Increasing Pressure to Migrate,” Coffeelands, Catholic Relief Services, February 8, 2019. https://coffeelands.crs.org/2019/02/coffee-farmers-face-increasing-pressure-to-migrate/
Passion River Films. “Connected by Coffee.” https://www.passionriver.com/connected-by-coffee.html.
“Specialty Coffee Association.” https://sca.coffee/.
STiR Coffee and Tea Magazine | Global Business Insight on Coffee and Tea. “Gender-in-Coffee Documentary,” May 22, 2018. https://stir-tea-coffee.com/api/content/41573328-636e-11e8-8099-12408cbff2b0/.