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| Re-purpose used tea leaves |
Green Earth Organics Inc. is a home and office certified organic grocery and natural product delivery service. We have a wide selection of 100% Certified Organic fruit, vegetables, and other grocery products. We also carry a growing list of environmentally friendly products that make it easier for our customers to tread lighter on our planet. This blog offers exiting information on organic food and healthy eating habits.
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Gardening with Cooking Waste!
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Inside Level Ground Trading
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with one of the co-founders of
Level Ground Trading, Stacey Towes, a cheerful and enthusiastic man who
has dedicated his life to making a difference. A leading advocate for
Fair Trade practices, he explains his company’s goal as “A desire for a
sustainable response to hard working, small –scale farmers who are
marginalized from the global economy. We wanted to alleviate poverty
without doing charity.”
Level Ground works to create jobs, provide education, and instill hope into more and more impoverished communities. His company carries products from all over the globe including coffee, sugar and dried fruit from South America and Africa, tea from India, and recently vanilla from Uganda and coconut oil from the Philippines.
The company began in 1997 with four families who wanted to work together and make a difference in the lives of small-scale farmers. They had little experience with coffee or fair trade, but their business partner and now company CEO, Hugo, had spent his summers growing up among the coffee farmers of Colombia. By bringing steady and reliable jobs to the table, along with health care and the promise of education for the children of the farmers they work with, Level Ground set a high standard for companies seeking to bring products into the North American market.
This continues to be the norm today, with over 5000 small-scale farming families being paid for their harvests each year. The impact of the company “…has surpassed my expectations and provided me a greater sense of fulfillment than I would have imagined.”
Level Ground’s impact isn’t just overseas; they’ve also travelled extensively throughout North America, spreading the message of sustainable farming and fair trade. “We’ve stuck with our mission since inception– trading fairly and directly with small-scale farmers in developing countries. I believe that despite the growth of Fair Trade we’ve seen over recent years, the essence of what we do neither popular nor well understood.”
Fair Trade has been around as a concept since World War II, but only really started to take root in the thoughts of North Americans in the 1960’s. Only the past two decades have people truly started making an effort to change how we do business.
“So in this way [we] still see ourselves as pioneers. Now, with the steady addition of food products beyond coffee, I believe that we are accomplishing something else unique to stretch peoples’ notion of what we’re all about.”
Level Ground has also dedicated itself to supporting their local community and the environment. Each of their employees is paid extra to allow for environmentally friendly methods of commuting each day.
“In the course of a year there are more than 100 non-profit groups which we partner with in some way. It may be something as simple as a $30 donation of product to a micro-credit or supplying all 3,000+ servings of coffee and supplies to 18 food vendors at the Saanich Fair.”
Our interview closed with a request for advice for any future entrepreneurs seeking to make their own impact on the world.
"Do what you love and stick with it. If you are passionate there is potential. Take time to build relationships and to strategize so that you have both the people resources and the system to grow and realize your dream."
Buy Level Ground products now from our Victoria location!
Level Ground works to create jobs, provide education, and instill hope into more and more impoverished communities. His company carries products from all over the globe including coffee, sugar and dried fruit from South America and Africa, tea from India, and recently vanilla from Uganda and coconut oil from the Philippines.
The company began in 1997 with four families who wanted to work together and make a difference in the lives of small-scale farmers. They had little experience with coffee or fair trade, but their business partner and now company CEO, Hugo, had spent his summers growing up among the coffee farmers of Colombia. By bringing steady and reliable jobs to the table, along with health care and the promise of education for the children of the farmers they work with, Level Ground set a high standard for companies seeking to bring products into the North American market.
This continues to be the norm today, with over 5000 small-scale farming families being paid for their harvests each year. The impact of the company “…has surpassed my expectations and provided me a greater sense of fulfillment than I would have imagined.”
Level Ground’s impact isn’t just overseas; they’ve also travelled extensively throughout North America, spreading the message of sustainable farming and fair trade. “We’ve stuck with our mission since inception– trading fairly and directly with small-scale farmers in developing countries. I believe that despite the growth of Fair Trade we’ve seen over recent years, the essence of what we do neither popular nor well understood.”
Fair Trade has been around as a concept since World War II, but only really started to take root in the thoughts of North Americans in the 1960’s. Only the past two decades have people truly started making an effort to change how we do business.
“So in this way [we] still see ourselves as pioneers. Now, with the steady addition of food products beyond coffee, I believe that we are accomplishing something else unique to stretch peoples’ notion of what we’re all about.”
Level Ground has also dedicated itself to supporting their local community and the environment. Each of their employees is paid extra to allow for environmentally friendly methods of commuting each day.
“In the course of a year there are more than 100 non-profit groups which we partner with in some way. It may be something as simple as a $30 donation of product to a micro-credit or supplying all 3,000+ servings of coffee and supplies to 18 food vendors at the Saanich Fair.”
Our interview closed with a request for advice for any future entrepreneurs seeking to make their own impact on the world.
"Do what you love and stick with it. If you are passionate there is potential. Take time to build relationships and to strategize so that you have both the people resources and the system to grow and realize your dream."
Buy Level Ground products now from our Victoria location!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Changes to Fair Trade in the US
As of December 1st, 2011, Fair Trade USA (FTUSA) decided to end its membership with Fairtrade International (FLO) to pursue its own approach rather than continue working within the global system.
FLO has a 20-year history of partnering with small-scale coffee grower cooperatives and working to set fair trade standards internationally. This hard work has resulted in a well-known ethical certification label recognized and respected around the world.
With bananas and other fresh fruits and vegetables, teas, and flowers, FLO works with large-scale farms to push for improvements in working conditions and worker empowerment. However, their approach when dealing with coffee is a little different:
"Recognising that 70 percent of the world’s coffee is produced by smallholders with less than 10 hectares of land, and that around 10 million small-scale coffee farmers depend on coffee as their primary source of income, feedback to date has been that the global standard for coffee should remain fully focused, as originally intended, on delivering market access on Fairtrade terms for smaller-scale farmers. We will continue to explore how we can expand our reach in this regard, focusing on partnership with producer organisations committed to democracy, transparency and empowerment." (Full article here.)
This is what Fair Trade USA has decided to change. According to Equal Exchange, a US-based provider of fair trade products:
"Without input from stakeholders, on January 1, FTUSA abandoned the global Fair Trade system (Fair Trade International, aka FTI) and loosened eligibility rules to allow large coffee, cocoa and sugar plantations to receive Fair Trade certification. That would put these large estates in direct competition with the hundreds of small-farmer co-operatives around the world who co-created the Fair Trade movement and have been the core of Fair Trade for over 25 years." (Full article here.)
Many people are concerned about what it will mean for small farmer cooperatives who have to compete with large plantations who don't need fair trade premiums to be profitable. Many are also concerned about the possible dilution of the meaning of "certified fair trade":
"The concern is that "large companies will use the fair trade seal to do what they call 'fair-wash,' to get the halo effect and perhaps confuse consumers about their overall practices," said Daniel Jaffee, an assistant professor of sociology at Washington State University who has studied the movement." (Full article here.)
Fair Trade USA, meanwhile, is defending its decision by saying that their changes will support fair trade for more people ("Fair Trade for All"). They are seeking to double their impact over the next three years and say:
"The key to adding value and growing impact is innovation. Fair Trade USA is innovating our model in three ways:
1. Strengthening Farming Communities by investing in cooperatives and partnering with others to provide support services, with a focus on quality and business capacity
2. Including More Farmers, Farm Workers and Communities in the benefits of Fair Trade
3. Engaging Consumers to increase market demand for Fair Trade Certified products and grow sales and impact"
One of our suppliers is very committed to fair trade (they are our source for organic, fair trade bananas). When we asked them about this controversy, they had this to say:
"[We are] working with FLO, Fair Trade Federation, Fair Trade Resource Network, Domestic Fair Trade Organization, World Fair Trade Organization, Equal Exchange, North American Fair Trade Stakeholder Council, Fair Trade World and others (we're members of most of these) to find a way out of this mess, and we're hoping for some progress soon. Ultimately, if we succeed in making some changes to certification, it will still leave Fair Trade USA out there as a rogue certifier, so the product will be in the marketplace, which will have some impact on us. At this point, the new Mexican mega corporations that have been certified are selling their stuff only through Whole Foods - you can already see it at their stores, but I have no doubt it will be available on the open market. ... at this point we're not happy selling it as Fair Trade because of the low standards that have been set for these large companies."
This supplier is intending to do a more detailed write-up about the changes to fair trade and the possible impact internationally and in Canada. Once they do that, we will post it here or link to it. In the meantime, we will continue to bring in fair trade products certified by FLO and continue to support small farmer cooperatives.
FLO has a 20-year history of partnering with small-scale coffee grower cooperatives and working to set fair trade standards internationally. This hard work has resulted in a well-known ethical certification label recognized and respected around the world.
With bananas and other fresh fruits and vegetables, teas, and flowers, FLO works with large-scale farms to push for improvements in working conditions and worker empowerment. However, their approach when dealing with coffee is a little different:
"Recognising that 70 percent of the world’s coffee is produced by smallholders with less than 10 hectares of land, and that around 10 million small-scale coffee farmers depend on coffee as their primary source of income, feedback to date has been that the global standard for coffee should remain fully focused, as originally intended, on delivering market access on Fairtrade terms for smaller-scale farmers. We will continue to explore how we can expand our reach in this regard, focusing on partnership with producer organisations committed to democracy, transparency and empowerment." (Full article here.)
This is what Fair Trade USA has decided to change. According to Equal Exchange, a US-based provider of fair trade products:
"Without input from stakeholders, on January 1, FTUSA abandoned the global Fair Trade system (Fair Trade International, aka FTI) and loosened eligibility rules to allow large coffee, cocoa and sugar plantations to receive Fair Trade certification. That would put these large estates in direct competition with the hundreds of small-farmer co-operatives around the world who co-created the Fair Trade movement and have been the core of Fair Trade for over 25 years." (Full article here.)
Many people are concerned about what it will mean for small farmer cooperatives who have to compete with large plantations who don't need fair trade premiums to be profitable. Many are also concerned about the possible dilution of the meaning of "certified fair trade":
"The concern is that "large companies will use the fair trade seal to do what they call 'fair-wash,' to get the halo effect and perhaps confuse consumers about their overall practices," said Daniel Jaffee, an assistant professor of sociology at Washington State University who has studied the movement." (Full article here.)
Fair Trade USA, meanwhile, is defending its decision by saying that their changes will support fair trade for more people ("Fair Trade for All"). They are seeking to double their impact over the next three years and say:
"The key to adding value and growing impact is innovation. Fair Trade USA is innovating our model in three ways:
1. Strengthening Farming Communities by investing in cooperatives and partnering with others to provide support services, with a focus on quality and business capacity
2. Including More Farmers, Farm Workers and Communities in the benefits of Fair Trade
3. Engaging Consumers to increase market demand for Fair Trade Certified products and grow sales and impact"
One of our suppliers is very committed to fair trade (they are our source for organic, fair trade bananas). When we asked them about this controversy, they had this to say:
"[We are] working with FLO, Fair Trade Federation, Fair Trade Resource Network, Domestic Fair Trade Organization, World Fair Trade Organization, Equal Exchange, North American Fair Trade Stakeholder Council, Fair Trade World and others (we're members of most of these) to find a way out of this mess, and we're hoping for some progress soon. Ultimately, if we succeed in making some changes to certification, it will still leave Fair Trade USA out there as a rogue certifier, so the product will be in the marketplace, which will have some impact on us. At this point, the new Mexican mega corporations that have been certified are selling their stuff only through Whole Foods - you can already see it at their stores, but I have no doubt it will be available on the open market. ... at this point we're not happy selling it as Fair Trade because of the low standards that have been set for these large companies."
This supplier is intending to do a more detailed write-up about the changes to fair trade and the possible impact internationally and in Canada. Once they do that, we will post it here or link to it. In the meantime, we will continue to bring in fair trade products certified by FLO and continue to support small farmer cooperatives.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Pistol & Burnes Coffee
Pistol & Burnes is a family operated and Canadian owned coffee company. Their roasting facilities are located in Delta. They choose the best green organic beans, pay fair trade prices, then roast and package the coffee locally for the freshest and best tasting product.
In addition, Pistol & Burnes uses a compostable bag. Most roasted coffee sold in the world is packaged in either foil bags (coated in plastic) or paper bags (with a plastic liner). The problem with this type of packaging is the inability to recycle the material afterwards, resulting in bags ending up in a landfill.
Pistol & Burnes now packages their coffee beans in compostable materials. The coffee is packaged in a paper bag which is lined with the NatureFlex cellulose film produced from wood pulp sourced from managed plantations.
The cellulose film is fully certified to the European and American standards for compostable packaging by Vinçotte, Din Certco, and the BPI as home compostable and will also biodegrade in a waste water environment.
Green Earth Organics is excited to be carrying several different Pistol & Burnes coffee blends in environmentally friendly packaging: Spitfire Longbottom's Dark Roast, West Coast Medium Roast, and Dog & Trombone Espresso. All of these coffees are whole bean and in 16 oz packages (our other coffees are all in 12 oz packages, thus the price difference).
Pistol & Burnes also carries a unique product: organic, fair trade, dessert coffees. Also in 16 oz, compostable bags, we're offering two of these: French Vanilla and Hazelnut Cream.
We hope you will enjoy these new offerings. If there's an organic product you would like us to carry, please call us at 604-708-2345 or email info@greenearthorganics.com.
In addition, Pistol & Burnes uses a compostable bag. Most roasted coffee sold in the world is packaged in either foil bags (coated in plastic) or paper bags (with a plastic liner). The problem with this type of packaging is the inability to recycle the material afterwards, resulting in bags ending up in a landfill.
Pistol & Burnes now packages their coffee beans in compostable materials. The coffee is packaged in a paper bag which is lined with the NatureFlex cellulose film produced from wood pulp sourced from managed plantations.
The cellulose film is fully certified to the European and American standards for compostable packaging by Vinçotte, Din Certco, and the BPI as home compostable and will also biodegrade in a waste water environment.
Green Earth Organics is excited to be carrying several different Pistol & Burnes coffee blends in environmentally friendly packaging: Spitfire Longbottom's Dark Roast, West Coast Medium Roast, and Dog & Trombone Espresso. All of these coffees are whole bean and in 16 oz packages (our other coffees are all in 12 oz packages, thus the price difference).
Pistol & Burnes also carries a unique product: organic, fair trade, dessert coffees. Also in 16 oz, compostable bags, we're offering two of these: French Vanilla and Hazelnut Cream.
We hope you will enjoy these new offerings. If there's an organic product you would like us to carry, please call us at 604-708-2345 or email info@greenearthorganics.com.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
About Ethical Bean Coffee
Green Earth Organics is thrilled to be introducing Ethical Bean's coffees to our product offerings. This is an incredible local company that is setting the highest standards in environmental and social sustainability.
Ethical Bean Coffee is one of Canada's leading suppliers of 100% Fairtrade Certified organic and shade grown coffee. The Vancouver-based company prides itself on being both just, and better, in everything that they do. Whether through programs that respect the earth and its farmers or by leaving a minimal environmental footprint, Ethical Bean is constantly seeking new ways to do the right thing.
Ethical Bean's commitment to fair and environmentally friendly production practices starts at the source. Through a relationship with Transfair Canada, the company is able to ensure that the producers they purchase from are safe from the volatilities of the coffee market. And by using only 100% certified organic coffee, harmful pesticides and other chemicals don't come near the coffee or its growers.
Once the beans arrive in Vancouver, they are cupped, tested and slurped, then stamped with an "e" of approval and roasted in a 100% carbon neutral facility that has been designed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) CI standards. Ethical Bean's sound environmental practices extend to the small details: from the biodegradable and compostable cups and cutlery used at the roastery's on-site cafe, to the bag-return program that invites consumers to drop off all empty coffee bags (even those of competitors) for storage until a suitable recycling solution is found.
The company's dedication to both local and global environmental and community aid programs was raised to new heights in 2010 when Ethical Bean became a certified B Corporation. This membership aligns Ethical Bean with fellow like-minded businesses across North America dedicated to ensuring their products, practices and profits result in positive change that benefit both environmental and social causes.
Ethical Bean's assistance with community outreach ranges from hometown to international charities. Each December, the company donates $1 from each unit of coffee sold to its Kids to School program, benefiting two non-profit organizations: Child Aid's FUNDIT and Project Somos. FUNDIT provides children in Guatemala with the finances for school registration fees, uniforms, school supplies, shoes and textbooks, and when needed, transportation costs and health care for a year. Project SOMOS is a Vancouver-based non-profit organization that is committed to building a village in Guatemala for abandoned and orphaned children. Once completed, the village will have homes for children with organic gardens and orchards, buildings for art and music workshops, a library, and a large playground and soccer field.
For a limited time, Green Earth Organics will have Ethical Bean Coffee on sale for 10% off. Choose your favourite or get a couple and find a new favourite:
Bold: Dark roast. Dark, but not too dark. Edgy on one hand, seductively smooth on the other.
Classic: Medium roast. Ethical Bean's Classic is a coffee insider's favourite and the little black dress of their lineup. Elegant acidity highlights a nuanced, medium bodied cup.
Decaf: Dark roast. A very undecaf decaf. Gobs of body, intriguing chocolate character. Dynamite as drip, scintillating as espresso.
Lush: Medium dark roast. Any richer, and you'd ask it for it a loan. A heavy cup with Burgundian fullness, alive with fruit, smoke, and earth notes.
Rocket Fuel: French roast. The lovechild of dark alchemy and complete combustion. A hammering dark roast, blended to display body, balance and a dazzling dark cocoa-laced finish.
Sweet Espresso: Medium dark roast. A multi-dimensional, full-bodied velvet slipper for your tongue, dripping with crema. A stand-up straight shot. Marries beautifully with milk.
Ethical Bean Coffee is one of Canada's leading suppliers of 100% Fairtrade Certified organic and shade grown coffee. The Vancouver-based company prides itself on being both just, and better, in everything that they do. Whether through programs that respect the earth and its farmers or by leaving a minimal environmental footprint, Ethical Bean is constantly seeking new ways to do the right thing.
Ethical Bean's commitment to fair and environmentally friendly production practices starts at the source. Through a relationship with Transfair Canada, the company is able to ensure that the producers they purchase from are safe from the volatilities of the coffee market. And by using only 100% certified organic coffee, harmful pesticides and other chemicals don't come near the coffee or its growers.
Once the beans arrive in Vancouver, they are cupped, tested and slurped, then stamped with an "e" of approval and roasted in a 100% carbon neutral facility that has been designed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) CI standards. Ethical Bean's sound environmental practices extend to the small details: from the biodegradable and compostable cups and cutlery used at the roastery's on-site cafe, to the bag-return program that invites consumers to drop off all empty coffee bags (even those of competitors) for storage until a suitable recycling solution is found.
The company's dedication to both local and global environmental and community aid programs was raised to new heights in 2010 when Ethical Bean became a certified B Corporation. This membership aligns Ethical Bean with fellow like-minded businesses across North America dedicated to ensuring their products, practices and profits result in positive change that benefit both environmental and social causes.
Ethical Bean's assistance with community outreach ranges from hometown to international charities. Each December, the company donates $1 from each unit of coffee sold to its Kids to School program, benefiting two non-profit organizations: Child Aid's FUNDIT and Project Somos. FUNDIT provides children in Guatemala with the finances for school registration fees, uniforms, school supplies, shoes and textbooks, and when needed, transportation costs and health care for a year. Project SOMOS is a Vancouver-based non-profit organization that is committed to building a village in Guatemala for abandoned and orphaned children. Once completed, the village will have homes for children with organic gardens and orchards, buildings for art and music workshops, a library, and a large playground and soccer field.
For a limited time, Green Earth Organics will have Ethical Bean Coffee on sale for 10% off. Choose your favourite or get a couple and find a new favourite:
Bold: Dark roast. Dark, but not too dark. Edgy on one hand, seductively smooth on the other.
Classic: Medium roast. Ethical Bean's Classic is a coffee insider's favourite and the little black dress of their lineup. Elegant acidity highlights a nuanced, medium bodied cup.
Decaf: Dark roast. A very undecaf decaf. Gobs of body, intriguing chocolate character. Dynamite as drip, scintillating as espresso.
Lush: Medium dark roast. Any richer, and you'd ask it for it a loan. A heavy cup with Burgundian fullness, alive with fruit, smoke, and earth notes.
Rocket Fuel: French roast. The lovechild of dark alchemy and complete combustion. A hammering dark roast, blended to display body, balance and a dazzling dark cocoa-laced finish.
Sweet Espresso: Medium dark roast. A multi-dimensional, full-bodied velvet slipper for your tongue, dripping with crema. A stand-up straight shot. Marries beautifully with milk.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
About Level Ground Coffee
How Direct Trade coffee is helping people and communities:
Cafe La Paz, Bolivia
Cafe La Paz is purchased by Agricabv in Los Yungas. The price paid by Level Ground Trading has exceeded the FLO Fair Trade price by 26% and of that 67% has been paid directly to farmers, an additional 6% has been invested in the coffee farming community through wage support of a social worker, educational scholarships, computer equipment purchases and medical/dental traveling brigades.
Cafe Pangoa, Peru
CAC Pangoa is a 700+ member, FLO Cooperative in San Martin de Pangoa, Peru. CAC Pangoa is a progressive organization and is strong in leadership, gender equality and innovation. They have worked together to diversify crops and product offerings. They have utilized fair trade premiums for credit programs, crop diversification, women’s organization promotion, insurance, infrastructure improvements and technical assistance.
74% of the price we pay to CAC Pangoa goes directly to Farmers as a cash payment, an additional 13% is invested in the community under the direction of the Coop.
Cafe Mbeya, Tanzania
For the 3,812 farming families who comprise the HOPE Project, sales of the coffee they grow typically yields 50% or more of the annual family income. That means that the Level Ground Trading purchases of coffee from this region will translate to 50% or more of the household income for approximately 1300 farming families this year.
Additionally:
1. The prices being paid are higher than those paid by coffees grown in the same area and help support the ongoing organic farming practices of the HOPE Project farmers.
2. The prices being paid enable the CPUs to hire 60 full-time workers at peak harvest time to process Cafe Mbeya from fresh harvested cherries to sun-dried parchment.
3. Also, our purchases of the green coffee fund the total health insurance costs for 300 ‘mamas’ and their families, an estimated total of 1500 beneficiaries. They receive their treatment at no additional cost when they visit the Mbozi Missionary Hospital.
Cafe Awasa, Ethiopia
The co-op has 3094 member farmers representing a total population of 27,307 people.
We’ve worked hard to see the farmers receive both more money and a greater percentage of the money we pay for Ethiopian coffee. Many families are poor and until the past 3 years when Level Ground Trading started to purchase their coffee - the coffee prices they were receiving through other buyers were very low. For example, prices in 2001 and 2002 were only 25% of what they are receiving now through our Direct Fair Trade partnership. Farmers in the Fero Co-op do not generally have any other sources of cash besides the coffee they grow.
In 2008/2009 Level Ground Trading’s purchases will represent the cash income for 587 farming families. The negotiations we are undertaking on behalf of the farmers should have them paid higher than they were last year. As we heard time and again from the farmers - when they receive good payment for their coffee they have the means to eat better, access better education for their children and afford health care treatment.
Learn more on Level Ground’s website: http://www.levelground.com/
Level Ground Direct Fair Trade Organic Coffee is now available from Green Earth Organics! Check out the Coffee & Tea category (2nd and 3rd page) on the website or call us in the office at 604-708-2345 for more information.
Cafe La Paz, Bolivia
Cafe La Paz is purchased by Agricabv in Los Yungas. The price paid by Level Ground Trading has exceeded the FLO Fair Trade price by 26% and of that 67% has been paid directly to farmers, an additional 6% has been invested in the coffee farming community through wage support of a social worker, educational scholarships, computer equipment purchases and medical/dental traveling brigades.
Cafe Pangoa, Peru
CAC Pangoa is a 700+ member, FLO Cooperative in San Martin de Pangoa, Peru. CAC Pangoa is a progressive organization and is strong in leadership, gender equality and innovation. They have worked together to diversify crops and product offerings. They have utilized fair trade premiums for credit programs, crop diversification, women’s organization promotion, insurance, infrastructure improvements and technical assistance.
74% of the price we pay to CAC Pangoa goes directly to Farmers as a cash payment, an additional 13% is invested in the community under the direction of the Coop.
Cafe Mbeya, Tanzania
For the 3,812 farming families who comprise the HOPE Project, sales of the coffee they grow typically yields 50% or more of the annual family income. That means that the Level Ground Trading purchases of coffee from this region will translate to 50% or more of the household income for approximately 1300 farming families this year.
Additionally:
1. The prices being paid are higher than those paid by coffees grown in the same area and help support the ongoing organic farming practices of the HOPE Project farmers.
2. The prices being paid enable the CPUs to hire 60 full-time workers at peak harvest time to process Cafe Mbeya from fresh harvested cherries to sun-dried parchment.
3. Also, our purchases of the green coffee fund the total health insurance costs for 300 ‘mamas’ and their families, an estimated total of 1500 beneficiaries. They receive their treatment at no additional cost when they visit the Mbozi Missionary Hospital.
Cafe Awasa, Ethiopia
The co-op has 3094 member farmers representing a total population of 27,307 people.
We’ve worked hard to see the farmers receive both more money and a greater percentage of the money we pay for Ethiopian coffee. Many families are poor and until the past 3 years when Level Ground Trading started to purchase their coffee - the coffee prices they were receiving through other buyers were very low. For example, prices in 2001 and 2002 were only 25% of what they are receiving now through our Direct Fair Trade partnership. Farmers in the Fero Co-op do not generally have any other sources of cash besides the coffee they grow.
In 2008/2009 Level Ground Trading’s purchases will represent the cash income for 587 farming families. The negotiations we are undertaking on behalf of the farmers should have them paid higher than they were last year. As we heard time and again from the farmers - when they receive good payment for their coffee they have the means to eat better, access better education for their children and afford health care treatment.
Learn more on Level Ground’s website: http://www.levelground.com/
Level Ground Direct Fair Trade Organic Coffee is now available from Green Earth Organics! Check out the Coffee & Tea category (2nd and 3rd page) on the website or call us in the office at 604-708-2345 for more information.
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