The Agriculture Behind the Aroma
From the fields where coffee cherries ripen to the cups that power early mornings, agriculture remains at the heart of every brew. Now, the University of California, Davis is spotlighting that connection with three major additions to its library.
UC Davis has received significant coffee related collections that trace the crop’s journey from farm to global marketplace. The donations come from Gerald “Jerry” Baldwin, co founder of Starbucks and former president of Peet’s Coffee; Russ Kramer, president of Hacienda La Minita and former executive at Green Mountain Coffee; and the Specialty Coffee Association.
The materials include rare books, photographs and business records that document coffee’s agricultural roots, international trade networks and rise as a specialty product. Kramer’s collection reflects decades of work in production and sourcing, with records detailing farming practices, market development and efforts to improve quality and traceability.
“The UC Davis Library will be the center of the world for coffee research,” Kramer said.
Together, the archives reinforce UC Davis’ role as a leader in agricultural research and the science behind one of the world’s most traded crops.
