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Archive of all our articles about CC, our roasters, our producers, and the fair trade movement.
Is this the end of organic coffee?
Thanks to a recent hush-hush USDA ruling, your clean-conscience, fair-trade, organic latte may soon be a thing of the past.
Third World program: Putting a face on your next cup of coffee - April/Americus Times Recorder
April 29, 2004 - AMERICUS, GA
Montreal Gazette
Here is an article from the Montreal gazette, as part of their "On the Coffee Trail: from Nicaragua to your Cup" series, discussing the place of fair trade in Montreal, focusing of course on our Montreal-based roaster member, Cafe Rico.
A Visit to Finca El Roble
Here is an article from the Montreal Gazette's "On the Coffee Trail: From Nicaragua to your Cup" series. They offer a small glimpse into the life of a fair trade coffee farm, one that is a part of CECOCAFEN, an umbrella group in Nicaragua from whom we import green coffee.
Behind the Label
As the fair-trade movement evolves, farmers, activists and others fear that the meaning of the term will become corrupted
Dean's Beans Sponsors Innovative Radio Show for Coffee Farmers
CRS wire article on the Coffee Talk radio program Deans Beans helped set up in Guatemala
Coffee and genocide
Sunday February 25, 2007 Observer Food Monthly From the Guardian UK This is a story about gourmet coffee and genocide. It takes place in Rwanda ...
New Internationalist article
New Internationalist November 2006 • Issue 395 Ethical shopping / FAIR TRADE
Coffee Connection
Feature article in the Courier-Journal featuring producer partner Nahuala and a visit by Cooperative Coffees and Heine Brothers Co, in Louiville, Kentucky.
Clamor May03
Who's Paying For Your Fix: A Crop-to-Cup Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Your Morning Pick-Me-Up
Tiwun
A first export of Tiwun coffee (Tayrona Indigenous Federation) from the Arhuacos to Cooperative Coffees makes headlines in Colombia. by Lila Esther Silgado Villadiego of the Diario La República. Spanish version only.
Third World program: Putting a face on your next cup of coffee
Published April 29, 2004 12:00 am - AMERICUS -- The next time you go to take a sip of your favorite cappuccino, try to sense more than the aroma. "Think a little deeper about who is behind the coffee," said Bill Harris Jr.
Deans Beans Organic Co.: Organic Growth
Take a peak at this great article looking at the growth and business style of one of our very own roaster members.
Fair Trade or Fairly Traded
This is a great article that highlights the debates currently raging in Fair Trade circles: the place of multinationals, the role of FLO, and the minimum price of FT coffee. Many members are featured in the article, and Cooperative Coffees is given as an example of a player that is staying true to the integrity of the movement.
Fair Trade: Coffee, Chocolate & More
Higher Grounds trading Co. passed in a podcast from a Jesuit radio program called “Provoke” , dating from may 20th, 2007.
Spilling the beans on fair trade
Naomi Lightman. Sept 27th, 2007. This is a feature article on the ongoing discussion surrounding the future of fair trade, written by Naomi, an intern at Cooperative Coffees last year, for McGill University's student newspaper, The McGill Daily.
Food First report on Fair Trade
Institute for Food and Development Policy. DEVELOPMENT REPORT No 17.
Higher Grounds post in greendealsdaily.com
greendealsdaily.com checked out some of Higher Ground's blends in the latest blog post, and came up with a winning review.
Choc tactics: Cocoa co-operatives
The Independent takes a look at Divine Chocolate, a fair trade chocolate company that truly embodies the meaning of fair trade-the producer coop that supplies the cocoa are actual owners of half the company.
Green LA Girl Review of Javatrekker
One of our members, Dean Cycon, founder of Dean's Beans, has written a book about his experiences traveling the world sourcing fair trade coffee. Green LA Girl blogger gives it a glowing review here.
Cultural Survival Quarterly 2005 Issue dedicated to Fair Trade
Fair Trade and Indigenous People. This issue was dedicated to fair trade, and attempted to dig deeper on all aspects of the fair trade movement, and how it relates to the realities of indigenous people.
Will Coffee Be a Casualty of Climate Change?
AlterNet article written by Dean Cycon of Deans Beans, on the effects of climate change on coffee and its producers.
Confronting the Coffee Crisis:Fair Trade, Sustainable Livelihoods and Ecosystems in Mexico and Central America.
New book addresses and examines the issues surrounding the coffee trade from field to cup.
Co-Founders of Higher Grounds Trading Company to Visit Delaware
Article about Higher Grounds university visit.
Coffee Review gives Fondo Paez 95 pt score
Coop Coffees has a gem in our midst. Kickapoo's Fondo Paez roast just got the top slot on CoffeeReview.com with a whopping 95 point score. Congrats to Wilman and all the amazing Paez farmers! And to Caleb at Kickapoo and his endless cupping! Read on below for the full review.
Pura Vida Coffee wins support of the House
Seattle Times reports on Coop Coffees member Pura Vida's bid to sell coffee to the U.S. House of Representatives based on a gold old fashioned taste test.
Ethics on the high street: how Fairtrade changed lives
The Herald. February 19 2008, by REBECCA McQUILLAN.
Small-scale farmer coffee co-operative in solidarity with landless farm workers
CECOCAFEN given as an inspiring example of the role of fair trade cooperatives within a community.
UK-based Fairtrade Foundation Responds to Adam Smith Institute Report
The Adams Smith Institute think tank recently released a flawed report decrying the injustices and insufficiencies of fair trade. The Fairtrade Foundation gives a counterpoint of each of their arguments in this press release.
Does Fairtrade = Environmentally Friendly?
EcoSpace Conscious Community writes an article examining the environmental impact of importing fair trade goods in terms of their ecological footprint.
Tours to Fair-Trade Farms Help Coffee Sellers Spread Word
Wall Street Journal article on fair trade tours-highlighting Coop Coffees members Just Coffee, Higher Grounds, and Pura Vida-and their role in helping customers become fair trade ambassadors by seeing benefits first hand.
The Wall Street Journal’s Fair Trade Faux Pas
The Bean Activist blog reacts to the recent article in the WSJ on Fair Trade Travel, their free trade misnomer, and misguided interpretation that growth, and not justice, is the guiding force behind these efforts.
How Fair is Fairtrade?
In response to fair trade's skyrocketing popularity in the UK, this BBC article looks at the questions that have been asked (particularly by the Adams Smith Institute) on the effect fair trade has in the developing world, and finds the resulting increased self-sufficiency of producers.
Fairtrade vs food miles
A second look at the assumption that food that comes from farther away entails a higher carbon footprint, and what this means for fair trade.
World's Consumers Embrace Fair-Trade Marketing
This march 12th article by the World Advertising Research Center (WARC) looks at the growing success of fair trade marketing.
'Teach us how to fish - do not just give us the fish'
March 12th Guardian article that looks at the stories of three producers whose communities have been changed by becoming fair trade.
Fears grow that food inflation threatens Fairtrade
Interesting Guardian article looks at the rising prices of the commodities market, and the affect this might have on fair trade producer cooperatives.
Making Sense of Certification — Fair Trade, Direct Trade, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, Whole Trade, and Organic.
March 30th 2008 Posted to Coffee Certification. Thorough overview of different coffee certifications and what they mean.
Coffee with a cause
Consumer Reports: Greener Choices, Products for a Better Planet. A look at the gamut of coffee labels, and how to distinguish between them.
A Wal-Mart PR Issue Brews Anew
Business Week. Retailing April 1, 2008, 6:35PM EST. The retailer's initiative to offer fair-trade coffee is pleasing environmentalists but reheating a debate over treatment of its workers
Regular, decaf or ethical?
Report on panel discussion at the University of Vermont titled "How Green Is Your Coffee?", featuring Monika Firl, producer relations at CoopCoffees, Mane Alves, CoopCoffees member and coffee cupper, and Ernesto Mendez, a UVM professor and contact for El Comanur cooperative in EL Salvador, looks the coffee crisis and the role fair trade plays in coffee producing countries.
Fair trade still striving to create an identity
April 26, 2008. More people beginning to recognize that fair trade is not necessarily free trade. This Vancouver Sun article looks at consumers' growing awareness of fair trade, and at the challenges that still lie ahead in terms of people's notions of fair trade goes beyond just a "fair price".
Fair Trade or fairly traded?
May 8, 2008. Minnesota Daily article discusses the coffee chain and coffee quality, citing Peace Coffee as an example of a true fair trader.
Ethiopia Steals the Show at World’s Largest Coffee Gathering
May 14, 2008 article from African Path looks at the presence of Ethiopian coffee at this year's SCAA.
Coffee with a conscience
May 18, 2008. This Albany Herald article on the 10 year anniversary of Cafe Campesino looks at the history of the Americus roastery, and at how Coop Coffees got its start.
Latin American farmers visit Sauk County
May 15th 2008. The Reedsburg Times Press wrote this article covering Just Coffee's leg of the MidWest Producer Tour with many of our producer partners, including representatives from Manos Campesinas, Fecafeb, la FEM, CENFROCAFE, and Maya Vinic.
Leading article: Fair trade is growing – and working
Saturday, 24 May 2008. The Independent writes about Fair Trade's growing success.
Why Fair Trade might be our only hope...
Fair trade might now be necessary not only as a means of redistributing income, but also to feed the world.
Monika Firl discussing Fair Trade with Vancouver Cooperative Radio
As Fair Trade coffee makes its way onto the shelves of giant corporations like Walmart, spokespersons such as Monika Firl of Cooperative Coffees, warn that Fair Trade coffee available in such mega-stores may not necessarily embody the original spirit of Fair Trade as "social movement". Read on (and listen!) to discover the inner-workings of the corporate world's adoption of Fair Trade.
Black Gold: How Fairtrade put the cream into Uganda's coffee
A fascinating, in depth look at the story of coffee trade in Uganda during Idi Amin's terrifying reign, and the beginnings of Fair Trade in the country with UK-based company, Cafédirect.
Three Coffee Countries in Eight Days: CRS Hits the Trail
Blog entry from the folks at Catholic Relief Service about a trip to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras one of their staff is taking, in the company of Tripp from Cafe Campesino.
Now I know we’re in a recession
When the economy starts to hurt Starbucks, I know we’re in trouble. Fortunately, Dean’s Beans is still going strong, so there is some hope. For those of you who don’t know, Dean’s Beans started the fair trade movement in coffee and makes a variety of fair trade and organic roasts that put Starbucks to shame (both in terms of taste and corporate policy).
Making a World of Difference
Social Activist, ‘Javatrekker’ Dean Cycon Believes in Organic Business Growth. By GEORGE O’BRIEN. Published in Business West in the July 7th, 2008 Edition
Is Fair Trade Becoming 'Fair Trade Lite'?
Some proponents say the adjustments needed to bring companies like Wal-Mart and P&G aboard warp the goal of helping small farmers. Must standards for certification be lowered for Fair Trade to have any chance of entering the doors of multimillion-dollar corporations like Walmart? Do the necessary compromises undermine the very nature and essence of the movement? Here's a thought-provoking article about the next step for Fair Trade as it makes its debut in the world of big-box stores and mainstream markets. Business Week article by Pallavi Gogoi June 18th, 2008.
A Decade of Fair Trade
The Americus-based specialty coffee roaster and co-founder of Cooperative Coffee celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Before toasting to our dearly beloved member and "founding father," let's retrace a bit of the history and mission behind this trail-blazing roastery and recently inaugurated coffee shop!
Will Coffee Be a Casualty of Climate Change?
CoopCoffee's member roaster Dean from Dean's Beans isn't staying quiet about the potential threat that climate change poses to coffee production all over the world. In his blog published in "The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire," he uses the personal experiences and stories of farmers who are forced to deal with the volatile effects of global warming and the various ecological abnormalities that go along with it.
Alternative Grounds Celebrates 13th Anniversary
Last July, Alternative Grounds celebrated their 13th anniversary and we thought this would be a great opportunity to let you know a little bit about their impressive list of ongoing projects. From Amnesty International to an original postcard project, read all about the great new projects that the good folks at Alternative Grounds have been up to lately.
Alternative Trade Networks and the Coffee System
August 12th, 2008 article from WorldChanging discussing "Confronting the Coffee Crisis", a collection of papers about coffee and fair trade by Christopher M. Bacon (Editor), V. Ernesto Méndez (Editor), Stephen R. Gliessman (Editor), David Goodman (Editor), Jonathan A. Fox (Editor).
Response to a Fair Trade Naysayer
An unfortunate, although increasingly common response to new, against-the-grain ideas (like Fair Trade) is the outcry from skeptical naysayers who’d prefer to put a stop to anything that challenges their view of the world. So, with Fair Trade gaining momentum worldwide, more folks have started paying attention to it, which also means that more people are looking for an excuse to call Fair Trade “bad”.
Global Warming Pushes Peru to Pick Coffee Earlier
Reuters - August 21st article looks at the disproportionate effect of climate change on coffee farmers in Peru.
Peace Coffee Donates Prize Miniroaster
After participating in the annual Roaster's Guild Retreat and winning first place in the roasting competition, Peace Coffee's team "Los Guapos" received the snazzy miniroaster, Probatino by Probat Burns. They decided to donate it to CoopCoffee's long-time producer-partner Maya Vinic in Mexico and we can happily announce it's safe arrival!
IFAT's Standard: Grassroots Alternative?
IFAT believes that “a modern, voluntary, worldwide standard is needed to identify and define the rules of Fair Trade.” In August 2008, IFAT announced a new certification process (SFTMS) that is expected to help FTO’s differentiate themselves further from conventional buyers and sellers by providing the “seel” for corporate social responsibility. They’ve posted a series of notes and explanations on their website and have invited the public to comment on the Standard’s draft.
The Credit Crisis and Fair Trade
The "tsunami" of financial troubles that has ripped through Wall Street and sent panic and fear into Main Street poses several tough questions and situations for the Fair Trade business. In a commentary released in September, authors at Fair Trade Federation notify readers of the direct impacts of the crisis as well as advice for those involved in Fair Trade businesses.
Kickapoo Wins Again!
Every year for the last 5 years, Roast Magazine has put on a Roaster of the Year Competition to which roasters all across the country apply and enter their best coffees. Being the prestigious contest that it is, the competition is fierce and the judgment is tough. This year, CoopCoffee's member roaster Kickapoo Coffee entered for the first time ever and ended up making it as one of the top three finalists!
Fresh Cup Magazine Article
In their October 2008 issue, Fresh Cup magazine published an article about the unique and effective cooperative model within the Fair Trade world. Author Steven Krolak cites examples of a few cooperative-structured companies -- including our very own Just Coffee and Peace Coffee! The article discusses the benefits and challenges of forming, participating in, and managing a collectively-owned cooperative.
Violence in Colombia
In the last decade, Colombia has witnessed a brutal war take place in the rural regions of the country where lawless paramilitaries and dangerously powerful drug lords ruthlessly rip through areas occupied by indigenous groups. The government has responded with retaliatory violence in which innocent bystanders fall victim to undiscriminating police officers. In the midst of it all, indigenous groups -- including Fondo Paez -- have attempted to redress historical problems of land mismanagement and ownership, hoping to regain the land that has so violently been taken from them.
Peace Coffee: Changing the world one cup at a time.
The Star Tribune (newspaper in Minneapolis) featured Peace Coffee and their sustainable business model in October. From their bike/bio-diesel van deliveries, to their (and Cooperative Coffees') model of trade, to the controversy surrounding FT certification, this article covers several "hot" items affecting many of our roasters today.
CECOCAFEN Wins Prize for Social Development
In an article published in October, Francisco Mendoza of "El Nuevo Diario" (newspaper of Managua, Nicaragua) reports on CECOCAFEN's prize-winning efforts in the Women's Solidarity Project! In a contest in which coops from over 20 different countries participated and 50 different social development projects were presented, CoopCoffee's cooperative partner captured second place!
Desert Sun raises money for Oromia coop
With funds raised during a local Coffee Festival and from a showing of the documentary Black Gold, Desert Sun recently delivered a check to Negele Gorbitu, a coop belonging to the Oromia Union in Ethiopia. As a supplement to an ongoing school project, this money will help students get the basic educational resources they so desperately need and deserve.
FLO reviews Business Model
Nearly 10 years into its development, FLO has fallen increasingly under scrutiny as actors in the world of Fair Trade are becoming more and more wary of the organization's commitment to the well-being of small-scale producers. In response to the criticism, FLO has recently agreed that change should happen...now we all wait with eager anticipation to see how their plans unfold.
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!
SCAA 2009
Though we can hardly believe it's been a year since the busy excitement of the last SCAA coffee convergence, we're already in the throws of the hustle and bustle that comes with participating in an event like this!
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.
