Ita, Starbucks Farmer Support Center Indonesia

International Women’s Day is dedicated to celebrating women’s amazing achievements across the globe – and there are certainly plenty to celebrate in the coffee industry!

From Bean to Cup: Celebrating International Women’s Day with 5 Women Shaping the Coffee World in Asia Pacific. Today, we meet Ita from Starbucks Farmer Support Center Indonesia.

International Women’s Day is dedicated to celebrating women’s amazing achievements across the globe – and there are certainly plenty to celebrate in the coffee industry!

From coffee farmers to Starbucks partners (employees), both in-store and behind-the-scenes, we are bringing you the stories of five inspirational women in Asia Pacific who are making an impact in the coffee world. Join us as we share the stories behind their coffee experiences – and discover the vital parts they play in crafting your perfect coffee, from bean to cup.

“Success for me is being able to overcome challenges, go beyond our limits, be continuously motivated to develop and gain knowledge, and be beneficial to other people,” says Ita, Country Manager at Starbucks Farmer Support Center Indonesia in North Sumatra.

Having worked in the coffee industry for over 30 years, achieving these successes is what drives Ita’s passion in her role at Starbucks – where her tasks include sharing knowledge in crop and farm management with the local coffee farming community; identifying coffee growers who meet Starbucks’ standards for quality and sustainable production; and conducting training on ethical practices and quality standards with farmers, millers, exporters and internal partners.

In 2023 alone, that resulted in over 11,000 farmers receiving training on Best Agricultural Practices and Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices. “Most importantly, success is when we have contributed to the quality of a farmer’s livelihood and their ability to earn a decent income from their coffee farm,” Ita says.

Aside from working directly with farmers, Ita’s team also provides support for Starbucks store partners to enhance their understanding of the coffee story and deliver positive social impact projects for coffee farming communities. Overall, her goal is to ensure that “we give more than we take from the environment” and through the collaboration of everyone in the supply chain, “continue to ensure the future of coffee for all”.

“Starbucks innovations are made possible through the limitless possibilities of human connection,” Ita says. “Be it farmer communities or the Starbucks family, I’m grateful to have the chance to excel in all aspects – and being a woman in the coffee industry is something I’m deeply proud of.”

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