Forgot your password?
We've made news!
Whether it is Cooperative Coffees in the news, our member roasters making waves, or our producer partners highlighted in the media, see the splash we are making.
FEDECARES brings hope and change to DR
Tierramerica, a specialized information service produced by international news agency, IPS recently reported on the coffee market of the Dominican Republic. IPS correspondent Valeria Vilardo describes the country's severe poverty -- found principally in coffee-producing regions -- and introduces FEDECARES as offering small-scale producers a hopeful alternative. Read an excerpt below to see the impact our hard-working producer partner is making in the D.R.
Spreading Christmas joy...and fun!
After visiting producer partner ACOES earlier in the year, one of Bongo Java's staff, Chris Durai felt compelled to help the members of that community make this Christmas extra special for their kids. Throwing together a local benefit concert, Chris managed to raise money to cover costs for what turned out to be a fantastic fiesta in El Salvador! Once again, we're reminded of the creativity and connection that Fair Trade enables. Read Chris' summary of the event below.
OROMIA's Achievements
If you ever need a Fair Trade shot of inspiration – take a look at what OROMIA Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Union has been able to achieve in its short 10-year history! Their astounding amount of growth has inspired the coop to increase its capacity by providing helpful services to its members. From establishing its own bank to constructing an internal processing plant, OROMIA has come a long way since it began.
Coop Coffees Welcomes New Board
Cooperative Coffees is thrilled to welcome a new Board of Directors as we enter in to 2009. We have quite the year ahead of us with a 10 year anniversary to celebrate and a challenging economy to confront. Perfect timing for the qualified and enthusiastic team to lead the way!
Obama and Fair Trade
As the newly inaugurated President of the United States steps up to the plate to fill one of the most powerful positions in our day, the world anxiously awaits to see what will become of his ambitious plans – and promises – for change. Promoters of Fair Trade are just as eager to see what will become of Obama’s rhetorical shift towards fairer and more equal terms of international commerce.
Sweetwater launched!
Over the last couple months, the staff at Cafe Campesino has been busy preparing for the official launching of their "sister" roastery located in Gainesville, FL -- about 3 hours southwest of Americus, GA. Cooperative Coffees is happy to welcome Sweetwater into the family!
Santiago Returns
Last May, several of the Canadian members of Coop Coffees had the pleasure of hosting CEPICAFE founder and manager Santiago Paz during his North America visit for the annual SCAA conference. This year, he's back for one of the largest and most renowned food trade shows in the world: the SIAL Montreal. To our delight, Coop Coffees will benefit yet again from Santiago's visit to the Great North with visits to roaster members and allies.
Uplifting documentary challenges preconceptions
Tortuga Films, a local Quebec independent film company, recently released a poignant and charming film that features the stories of three children living in farming cooperatives in Central America. "Campesinos...la terre nous va rester" (we will inherit the earth) has gotten much attention in Quebec, entering a number of film festivals and won a couple of local awards in filmmaking. The film was featured in the Quebec film festival in February by the National Film Board of Canada in Montreal and was sold out within minutes of the ticket booth's opening.
Fires blaze through Guatemala
On 10 February 2009, fires broke out near the Pecul volcano, located in the western region of Guatemala. The wildfire spread across multiple departments and municipalities, reaking havoc on miles of cultivated land. Nearly a month after the fires began, several areas had yet to receive assistance from the government. This is merely one example of the harsh challenges farmers all over the world must face in their daily work to produce the foods and commodities on which consumers in the North depend.
Bongo Java's NunBun gains stamp status!
We're very proud to announce that the US Postal Service has announced that member-roaster Bongo Java's much-loved, and now famous, NunBun -- an ordinary cinnamon bun that many believe looked like Mother Teresa -- will be an official postage stamp! Below, Bongo Java sums up this momentous event!
Fundacion Ixil
In an area of the world that has suffered the devastating effects of a brutal civil war and years of oppression and poverty, the opportunity to join local and international efforts in seeking ways to develop sustainably -- primarily through education -- is a promising prospect. In collaboration with members of the international community, local organizations and advisors in the Ixil Triangle of northern Guatemala have established the Ixil Foundation in response to the pressing need for further development in the region.
NPR features Fair Trade
It's not often that Fair Trade takes the spotlight in mainstream news and media. On April 20, NPR broadcasted a short report about Fair Trade on their popular program "Morning Edition." After recent announcements from chocolate kings Mars and Cadbury that they will buy cocoa sourced with "certain environmental and labor standards" in practice, NPR examines the movement and its potential drive into more mass-marketed arenas.
Cadbury commits to Fair Trade
Cadbury, the British company responsable for the U.K.'s top-selling chocolate bar (the Dairy Milk) has announced that they will increase their purchases of Fair Trade certified cocoa to 15,000 tonnes by summer 2009. The company is jumping on the Fair Trade bandwagon that has caught the attention of many big shot coffee and chocolate companies. They've set up a blog devoted to the "Cadbury Cocoa Partnership" -- the name they've given their initiative to enter the Fair Trade market. Below, an article from BBC News gives further details of the announcement.
10-year Anniversary makes the news!
Coop Coffees made front-page news in April for the Americus Times-Recorder newspaper who reported on the 10-year celebration that took place at founding member Cafe Campesino's roastery and cafe. It truly was a wonderful, memorable event and we're happy to see it get a bit of press!
Fair trade products hold their own during recession
In the current economy, reports of growth are hard to come by. If anything, businesses are happy when they're not recording losses. But as the article from Canada's news agency, CBC, indicates below - and as we've seen among our own members at Coop Coffees - it appears the Fair Trade way of doing business is helping to dampen the effects of the crisis. Not only is Fair Trade helping to strengthen and empower producers in the Global South, it's also supporting and protecting the small businesses that live and work by its principles
Coop Coffees participates in Fair Trade Panel
In the current Fair Trade market, as box stores move in and companies all claim a stake in corporate social responsibility, the consumer is often left with confusing or mixed messages as to which claim or label is "legitimate." With all the different definitions of "fair" and "responsible," it's quite the challenge for businesses to know what they want to be associated with and for consumers to know what to trust. In a discussion hosted by a local NGO in Montreal, key actors of the Fair Trade and responsible consumption movements -- Coop Coffees included -- addressed these issues and the various perspectives at play.
Peru's mango producers victim of climate change
The farmers of northern Peru have been fighting the damaging effects of global warming for a while. As we reported in an article earlier this year, Peru is the third most affected country in the world by climate change. The northern region of Piura is among the areas that are seeing the greatest effects. Massive deluges at unexpected times and temperatures that are consistently higher than the norm are evidence of the larger climatic disruptions taking place across the planet.
Le Petit Rico - a tasty new addition!
In June, member roaster Café Rico opened the doors to “Le Petit Rico” – a charming restaurant-kitchen that offers delicious lunches and healthy take-out meals from 9 to 5. Sourcing from local Quebec farmers, fisherman, and butchers and using Fair Trade ingredients when they can, Le Petit Rico brings a whole new and unique flavor to the neighborhood.
Cows for quality coffee at COOPAC
Every year, Rwanda's national coffee competition awards the country's best coffee with the prestigious "Cup of Excellence." This year, farmers from Coop Coffees' producer partner COOPAC received fantastic scores and collected enough money from the coffees' auction sales to purchase several cows, goats, and hoes for the winning groups!
Cafe Camp gives Miguel a taste of Georgia!
It's not every day that the folks in Americus, GA get to spend time with a farmer and marketing director from a coffee coop in Guatemala -- and it's not every day that a farmer from Guatemala gets to visit a group of Georgians and experience their culture first-hand. But that's exactly what's been happening in the hometown of Coop Coffees member Cafe Campesino - since August, Miguel Tzoy of la Asociación Chajulense in Guatemala has been visiting with the community, learning all about the day-to-day of Cafe Campesino, getting accustomed to the unique cuisine, and fitting in regular English lessons into his busy schedule!
Van der Hoff Interview
Long-time Fair Trade promoter and practitioner, Frans van der Hoff, who is best known for co-founding Max Havelaar (precursor to FLO International), recently made a visit to Canada. He was the key-note speaker in York University's "Sustainable Purchasing Symposium", which took place on Sept 24 in Toronto. He also sat down with CBC Radio's host of the program "Dispatches" to discuss the current "crisis" of the movement as large corporations' interests threaten to undermine the reason fair trade came to be in the first place: to empower and protect small-scale farmers. Note: fastforward to 10:35 min
Cafe Campesino spreads to Atlanta!
It's an exciting time for Cafe Campesino -- and for all the Atlanta folk that will benefit! -- as they expand beyond Americus city limits and open a new coffeehouse in Atlanta! "Sweet Auburn" officially opened Oct. 31 but the grand opening celebration took place November 14th and was an opportunity to bring together Café Campesino friends from across the state and expose Atlanta coffee enthusiasts to Georgia’s first 100% fair trade coffee company.
Higher Grounds explores FT olive oil
The world of Fair Trade just keeps on growing...and getting tastier! In a recent trip to Palestine, Higher Grounds' Chris Treter explored the ins and outs of Fair Trade olive oil that is being produced by over 1,700 small farmers in the regions of Nablus, Ramallah, and Jenin. By empowering rural communities through traditional farming methods and sustainable trade partnerships, Fair Trade olive oil is slowly but surely making a difference in the lives of Palestinian farmers.
Larry's Beans's makes a splash in local news
CC member Larry's Beans was recently featured in the News Observer, in an article that explores the companies commitment to Fair Trade and sustainability. Starting with a passion for coffee and a degree in economics, Larry built his company into what is now a successful and ever-growing roasting institution in Raleigh! With an active presence in direct relationships with producer partners and a steadfast commitment to the environment and local causes, Larry's Beans has blazed the trail for Fair Trade coffee roasters all over the country.
Just Coffee wins SILVER as 2010 Bicycle Friendly Biz
For many of our member roasters, the primary mode of transportation -- both for the commute and for deliveries; in rain, shine, snow, or freezing temperatures! -- is the bicycle. This year, Just Coffee was recognized by the League of American Bicyclists for encouraging employees and setting an example for the community as a "Bicycle Friendly Business." Way to go Just Coffee! Keep on pedaling!
The Dangers of Climate Change
It has been a while now since scientists first warned us about climate change and its potential impact on the planet. Now that global warming is an indisputable fact, it is only a matter of time before it becomes an effective threat to our lives and environment. Unfortunately, some of the people most likely to be affected by this change are farmers living in southern countries. Fair Trade might be a part of the solution for coffee producers.
Alternative Grounds makes news!
Alternative Grounds has been a trailblazer of the fair trade movement ever since they set up shop in Toronto 15 years ago. And it seems that energy that sparked their original plan to roast and sell fairly traded, organic coffee in a warm and welcoming cafe on Roncesvalles Ave, has many more trails to blaze! Newspaper "The Toronto Sun" recently featured Linda Burnside, owner of Alt. Grounds for her admirable efforts to turn Toronto into a fair trade town!
Run Across Ethiopia article
March 2011 from "Ethiques et Societes" -- by Emilie Nault-Simard (Cafe Rico)
Run Across Ethiopia makes news in Quebec!
As you could expect, the Run Across Ethiopia has received quite a bit of press since it all got started several months ago. After all, it's not often that a group of North Americans teams up with a group of Ethiopians to run 250+ miles across Ethiopia.
Irene floods Waterbury
On the weekend of August 27-28, the whole eastern coast of the United States and Canada braced itself for the arrival of Hurricane Irene, with many states issuing hurricane warnings and declaring states of emergency. On Sunday, Irene hit Vermont with a vengeance, overflowing the Winooski River from its banks and flooding the town of Waterbury, home of our member roaster Vermont Artisan Coffee and Tea and Coffee Lab International. The flooding left behind a mess and a lot to worry about. Thankfully, however, no lives were lost.
