The people involved in bringing my chosen luxury item, coffee, to me include the farmers who tended the plants and harvested them, the plantation owners who owned the land where the plants were grown, the workers who packaged, stored, and shipped the product, and the retailers who sold the product to me. The farmers, who are often from low-income countries, are typically paid low wages and have limited access to resources. They are often dependent on the weather and climate, and their livelihoods are affected by changes in the market price of coffee. The plantation owners, who are often large corporations or wealthy individuals, benefit greatly from the coffee industry as they control a significant portion of the land and resources. They profit off of the labor of the farmers and have a large influence on the market price of coffee. The workers who package, store, and ship the product are typically paid low wages and have limited job security. The retailers, who are often large chain stores, profit off of the sale of the product.
The monetary cost to produce my chosen luxury item, coffee, varies depending on factors such as the location and quality of the beans. The company that I purchased the coffee from had a profit margin of around 30% off of my purchase. The human cost of the product includes the low wages and limited job security of the farmers and workers involved in the production of the coffee. The environmental cost of the product includes the use of pesticides and fertilizers that can harm the environment, as well as the deforestation that can occur when land is cleared for coffee plantations. Companies may try to increase profits by cutting costs, such as by paying farmers and workers less or by using cheaper, lower quality beans.
The advantages of the coffee, tea, and cacao industries include the fact that they provide jobs and income for people in low-income countries and that they are a source of revenue for these countries. The disadvantages include the low wages and limited job security of the workers involved in the production of these products, as well as the environmental damage that can occur as a result of the production of these products. Additionally, the large companies and wealthy individuals who control a significant portion of the land and resources in these industries often profit greatly from the labor of the farmers and workers, while the farmers and workers themselves often struggle to make a living wage.