To: Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks

Tell Starbucks: Switch to organic milk

Dear Mr. Schultz,

As a concerned consumer who cares about the environmental, health and animal welfare impacts of the food I buy and the companies I support, I urge you to serve organic dairy milk at Starbucks.

Starbucks buys nearly 100 million gallons of milk each year -- most of it from cows raised in cruel conditions in factory-farms. These cows are fed chemically-treated alfalfa and GMO crops like soy and corn, which have been engineered to withstand huge doses of herbicides. And, most corn and soy seeds are pre-treated with bee-killing pesticides.

The planting of massive monocultures, like corn and soy, and the spraying of GMO Roundup-resistant crops with glyphosate and other chemicals, has led to the loss of habitat and an alarming decline of essential pollinators, from bees to monarch butterflies.

Meanwhile, this chemical-intensive system of monocultures is fueling the profits of agro-chemical corporations like Monsanto, Bayer and Syngenta that are increasing their grip on our food supply and leaving few choices for farmers who want to purchase non GMO or non-chemically treated seed.

The better option -- organically produced milk -- is free from GMOs, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It is also produced without growth hormones and the antibiotics routinely used in conventional dairies to prevent animals housed in cramped and unsanitary conditions from getting sick.

Imagine what a difference Starbucks could make by sourcing healthier, more humane and sustainable milk and other products for its 20,000 stores.

I urge Starbucks to raise the bar and only serve organic dairy milk. By taking this step, you can be a powerful force for a better food system.

Why is this important?

Starbucks buys nearly 100 million gallons of milk each year -- most of it from cows raised in cruel conditions in factory-farms. These cows are fed chemically-treated alfalfa and GMO crops like soy and corn, which have been engineered to withstand huge doses of herbicides. And, most corn and soy seeds are pre-treated with bee-killing pesticides.

But there is a better alternative.

Demand that Starbucks serve organic milk!