From Olive Oil to Coffee, the Belice - Seattle Connection

Belice farmers have embarked on a journey, backed by Starbucks and guided by Tommaso Asaro, one of the region's prominent olive oil producers. Recently, the Belice Farmers Club was born, primarily comprising olive oil producers from the area, with a unique focus on the Nocellara del Belice variety that captured the heart of Starbucks' founder, Howard Schultz.

The crucial meeting with Tommaso Asaro paved the way for this collaboration. Asaro shared with Schultz his daily practice of consuming a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil on an empty stomach, a healthy habit that intrigued Schultz. A few months ago, Asaro, whose family has a century-old tradition of exporting oil and olives to the United States, began working with the coffee chain. He supplies his extra virgin olive oil from Nocellara del Belìce for Starbucks' "Oleato" beverages, which combine Arabica Starbucks coffee with an infusion of extra virgin olive oil from Partanna. This fusion provides a delicate and innovative coffee experience that has received praise from Starbucks executives. In anticipation of increased demand (currently, "Oleato" is only available in a few outlets), Asaro conceived the idea of involving producers from his valley, giving birth to the club concept.

"We're here to support the local farmers. I learned about this oil during a meeting with Tommaso Asaro, who told me he takes a spoonful of oil every morning, and I was impressed. From there, my interest in the product grew, and we started experimenting with coffee and oil, which turned out to be extraordinary," said Howard Schultz, Starbucks' chairman, during a meeting with around 300 farmers in Marinella di Selinunte, at the presentation of the Belice Farmers Club.

Schultz, who returned to Sicily just a few months later, shared his experience with Starbucks Farmer Support Centers (over 10 worldwide). The first Farmer Support Center was established in San Jose, Costa Rica, in 2004. Working individually with farmers in the field and supporting cooperatives and suppliers, Starbucks agronomists rely on traditional cultivation methods to help farmers improve the quality and profitability of their crops. Starbucks is closely considering the Belìce area to import the Farmer Support Center experience. "The future of 'Oleato' depends on your future," emphasized Michelle Burns, executive vice president of Global Coffee, Social Impact, and Sustainability at Starbucks. "We provide our knowledge, resources, and open-source economic philosophy for the future of this valley." On the sidelines of the event with farmers, Schultz also hinted at a possible Starbucks opening in Sicily, saying, "I'll discuss it with those responsible for development in Italy." Finally, when asked if he plans to buy a house in Sicily, he responded, "I'd love to, even though my family is in America. This is an extraordinary place."

"I came from a modest family," said the founder of Starbucks. "But I had the dream of doing something concrete for my homeland. I studied, and my commitment led me to become what I am today." Tommaso Asaro of the eponymous agricultural companies was clear: "We are already on a path for the club to take shape very soon. The protagonists will be the farmers themselves. We have already secured Starbucks' commitment to provide us with a farmer support center to accompany us on this journey, and, as in these two days, we have received full support from the institutions, starting with the municipal administration of Partanna, which I thank. The goal is to walk together, sharing best practices, ensuring sustainability, and putting the farmer at the center," concluded Asaro.