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October 2009
A Cooperative Coffees e-Newsletter for and about Fair Trade
Issue No. 16 October 2009
In this issue...
Reach out!
Though it's hard to believe a year has passed since the last Coop Coffees AGM, the leaves are turning from green to red, the breeze is a bit brisker on the morning ride to work, and pumpkins and chrysanthemums are showing up in our northern markets.So it must be Fall...which means it's time for the annual general meeting with CC's roasters, staff, and partners. Policarpio Ali Cruz of FECAFEB and Miguel Tzoy of La Asociacion Chajulense flew up to join us this year - representing their respective coops and adding a producer perspective to our discussions. Miguel was winding up a 6-week "English iimmersion" visit - during which he was able to fully experience "A day in the life" at Cafe Campesino and some good ole Georgian hospitality! Policarpio ended his visit to the US with a tour of Santa Rosa Beach with member-roaster Amavida Coffee.
Once again, our roaster members are making a "splash" in local news: Conscious Coffees was featured in an article of the Boulder community newspaper. And that's not the only place our roasters are showing up and making a difference. Both Peace Coffee and Larry's Beans were in Colombia last month to represent Coop Coffees at the national Specialty Coffee Show and to check in with producer partner APCO (Ocamonte). We also had groups in Mexico and Nicaragua for the CRS CAFE Livelihoods project which helps deliver technical advice in quality control and marketing.
In other news, one of Fair Trade's trailblazers, Frans van der Hoff spoke of the "crisis" of the movement -- referring to the threat presented by the entrance of large corporations -- in an interview on Canada's national radio station.
Indeed, Fair Trade as we know it is going through some major shifts in direction and spirit...and for many of us, it means we need to better define and distinguish what we do and how we do it. Coop Coffees has joined a team of like-minded allies to plan a 2010 Fair Trade Futures conference with the goal of entering a new, revitalized era a Fair Trade. So be sure to save the date and plan to join us for to what's promising to be a worthwhile convergence of Fair Trade practitioners, researchers, students, and consumers!
Let us know what changes you'd like to see in this newsletter by emailing us at bignews@coopcoffees.com.
Outreach and Communications
Coop Coffees AGM in Austin, Texas!
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This year, the Coop Coffees crowd headed down to the land of taco stands, cowboy boots, and…BATS for our cooperative’s annual general assembly. Member-roaster Third Coast Coffee in Austin, Texas graciously hosted nearly 40 roasters and staff for a weekend of meetings, workshops, cuppings...and lots of coffee breaks. |
Roaster News
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Our roaster members are often featured in local newspaper, magazine and online publications for their dedication to high standards in both coffee and Fair Trade practices. Recently, the Daily Camera of Boulder, Colorado published an article on Conscious Coffees. Owners Mark and Mel share their story, their desire to push the envelope on the standards for both coffee and Fair Trade as well as some of their best practices. Like many of our other roaster members, Conscious Coffees is making a significant impact on their local community and changing the way people pay for and drink their coffee! |
Producer News
Policarpio of FECAFEB connects with the community at Amavida
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After the Coop Coffees AGM, on his way back down to Bolivia, producer representative Policarpio Ali Cruz stopped for a short visit with Amavida Coffee Roasters in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. He only had a couple days but as usual, the folks at Amavida made it well worth everyone's while with several meaningful and fun events! |
Travel: Where in the world is Coop Coffees?
CRS update: quality control in Oaxaca; coop management in Matagalpa
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In September, two Coop Coffees delegations headed south -- one to Oaxaca, another to Nicaragua -- to facilitate workshops put on by the CRS CAFE Livelihoods project. In Oaxaca, the group focused on quality control -- both on the field and in the cupping lab. In Matagalpa, over 40 participants exchanged ideas, advice, and experiences about the Fair Trade and organic markets and marketing strategies. |
Peace Coffee and Larry's represent CC in Colombia
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The National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (FNC) invited two representatives from Cooperative Coffees to participate in the 2nd Annual Specialty Coffee Fair in Ibague, Colombia along with a slew of other buyers, traders, non-profits, and of course, producers. Angelica Cox-Vazquez of Peace Coffee and Erik Iverson of Larry's Beans were the lucky candidates to travel to Colombia, participate in the event... and visit producer partner APCO (Ocamonte). As always, the FNC were gracious hosts and gave Angelica and Erik a wonderful and memorable experience! |
The latest in the Fair Trade movement
Save the date! 2010 Fair Trade Futures Conference
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Five years after the first "Fair Trade Futures" conference, we're in a new and challenging position vis-a-vis Fair Trade. In collaboration with FTF, FTRN, and several other key actors and allies in the movement, Coop Coffees is helping to plan for the next Fair Trade Futures Conference. Whether you're a Fair Trade entrepreneur, consumer, student, and/or activist, you're heartily encouraged to join us for what we hope will be an event that deepens and "pushes the envelope" on the Fair Trade movement. |
Mark your calendars for September 10-12 2010 for Fair Trade Futures in Boston, MA!
Frans Van der Hoff discusses the "crisis of Fair Trade" with CBC
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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 (read more about the symposium here). 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. Download the interview here (fast-foward to 10:35min)... |
