Forgot your password?
April/May 2010
A Cooperative Coffees e-Newsletter for and about Fair Trade
April/May 2010
*EN ESPANOL*
In this issue...
Reach out!
Spring has sprung and with it, lots of new opportunities and challenges. Coop Sol and Coop Coffees is thrilled to announce the certification of the first "SCAA-approved" quality lab in Canada, right here in our Montreal "Labo Equitable"! Led by Master Roaster and Cupping Trainer, Mane Alves, we quickly "christened" the lab with the first Cupping Judge Course at the end of April with 8 eager students from far and wide.
In our effort to bring you both the good and the bad news from within our network, this month's newsletter highlights a couple of the challenges roasters, producers and allies have recently faced. As many of you may know, parts of southern US were struck hard by torrential rains at the beginning of May. In Nashville, member roaster Bongo Java has been a part of the relief efforts to help victims of the damaging floods. Helping others in times of great need is something our roasters have graciously devoted themselves to in both their local and international communities.
Speaking of crisis, our producer partner Rio Azul suffered a both terrifying and economically devastating loss, when some 30 heavily armed men broke into their warehouse and stole a container of coffee ready for export. Thankfully, no one was harmed in the incident but the coop is still coping with the shock as well as the financial burden of losing the coffee.
In a different (and more positive)sort of "challenge," Higher Grounds is preparing a fund-raising campaign to build schools and support education in Ethiopia. The climax will be a "Run across Ethiopia" next January, where HG owner Chris Treter and a couple of his athletic friends plan to run some 250 miles for the cause. The invitation is still open for anyone who would like to strap on some running shoes to join them... OR simply donate to the cause!
And as usual, not a month goes by without a bit of travel for the Coop Coffees crowd: Kickapoo Coffee ventured to Honduras to participate as a cupping judge with Fair Trade and Organic coffee coops; staff headed to Anaheim for the annual SCAA - this year highlighted by a gathering of fellow Fair Traders to discuss the movement, where it's headed and where we'd like to see it go, while holding to our common core values. Again, we were reminded that Fair Trade is poised at a crossroads, and we're excited to be part of a broader alliance amongst like-minded importers, roasters, and producers! With that in mind, the FT Futures Conference in September is turning into a very promising event for all -- you won't want to miss this one!
Thanks and enjoy your read!
Let us know what changes you'd like to see in this newsletter by emailing us at bignews@coopcoffees.com.
Outreach and Communications
Coop Sol becomes first SCAA-certified lab in Canada!
|
|
In recent months, Coop Sol has been working hard to assemble and develop an in-house quality control lab for Coop Coffees. In addition to its internal testing, the lab -- in partnership with Coffee Lab International -- will be equipped to host cupping courses. In April, our lab was officially certified by the SCAA which means it can hold the SCAA Cupping Judge Course There are only a handful of certified labs in North America (this is the only in Canada) so we are thrilled with this development and excited to see where it will go! The first cupping course was held later in April and the next is scheduled for the end of the summer! Come learn how to cup at the newly inaugurated Coop Sol "Labo Equitable"! |
Roaster News
Bongo Java lends a hand in the Nashville flood relief efforts
Higher Grounds' "Run Across Ethiopia"
|
|
One thing is for certain: our roaster-members do not lack ambition or creativity; in January 2011 Chris Treter and 2 others will run 250 miles from Addis Ababa to Yirgacheffe in the "Run Across Ethiopia." Their goal: to raise $100,000 for school projects in Ethiopia, whose construction will be administered by OCFCU (our coffee partners) and the Tesfa Foundation. Read more about the project... Visit their website to learn more... Follow "RAE" on Facebook... |
Producer News
Thieves break in and steal from Rio Azul's warehouse
|
|
Many of our producer partners face extraordinary challenges on a daily basis to get their coffee from the farm to the port safely. This month, Rio Azul suffered an attack of nearly 30 armed men who forced their way into the central warehouse and stole a container of conventional coffee from the coop. Thankfully no one from the coop or storage facility was hurt in the process but needless to say, this kind of loss for a coop with already limited production, is devastating. All the more reason to continue to support Rio Azul through solidarity trading to help them get through this difficult time. |
Travel: Where in the world is Coop Coffees?
Kickapoo Coffee participates in Honduran tasting event
|
|
|
SCAA Fair Trade meeting in Anaheim
|
|
|
The latest in the Fair Trade movement
World FT Weeks: another fun and busy year!
|
|
World Fair Trade Weeks has just finished up yet another successful year of outreach and promotion -- over 200 events took place in North America! This year's theme focused on incorporating fair trade items into our homes. As always, Coop Coffees' members were involved, sponsoring World Fair Trade Day, which was on May 8 this year. |
Schedule posted for FT Futures Conference!
|
|
The schedule for the Fair Trade Futures Conference is now posted! Don't forget to sign up for this year's largest convergence of Fair Trade promoters, activists, and friends. It's scheduled for September 10-12, 2010 and will take place in Boston, MA. Join hundreds of others in what is sure to be a memorable and productive event. Many of the workshop titles and speakers have been announced. Check out the website for more info... Or jump straight to the Registration Page! Register here... |
