ACOES travels to the South

Though their tour down south didn't last as long as we would have all liked, it sure was productive!  In just a couple of days, Don Rogelio and Oscar managed to traveled over 700 miles, giving presentations and meeting tons of people in the communities of our roaster members.  They established several new and exciting contacts for potential partnerships with local schools, housing centers, and radio stations. 

The first stop after Traverse City was Americus, GA.  Flying into Atlanta, then driving south to Americus with Tripp Pomeroy of Cafe Campesino, Oscar and Rogelio remained in good spirits despite their heavy travel schedule!  Cafe Campesino hosted an evening event at their coffee house in the roastery where Don Rogelio gave a presentation about ACOES, Fair Trade, and the benefits of organic practices in agriculture.  The event was attended by about 20-30 people from the community, all of whom left the coffee house with a first-hand understanding of Fair Trade and how it directly affects the lives of farmers around the world.  Don Rogelio explained to the group that it is through consumers like them that a small coop like ACOES is able to successfully enter the otherwise daunting and cutthroat US market.

Rogelio and Oscar also stopped by the Fuller Center for Housing (a non-profit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to providing housing in impoverished areas all over the world) for a follow-up on some preliminary conversations about potentially setting up a housing project in ACOES' community.  At the end of November 2008, the Center will be traveling to El Salvador for a separate project and will connect again with members of ACOES to discuss the plans for Tacuba.

During a special lunch hosted by Koinonia, the founding organization of Habitat for Humanity and a close partner with Cafe Campesino, Rogelio and Oscar spoke to a group of kids about Fair Trade basics and the need for social economic justice.  Once again, this event provided its participants with a first-hand opportunity to get to know the farmer's perspective of Fair Trade and to ask questions directly.

Before heading to Santa Rosa Beach, FL, Oscar and Rogelio graciously accepted Cafe Campesino's donation of 100 reading glasses and a rudimentary vision test to take back to Tacuba for the members of the community in need of vision correction.

In Santa Rosa Beach, host Dan Bailey of Amavida packed the day and a half for Oscar and Rogelio.  They went on a local radio station called "30A radio"  where they discussed the process from crop to cup and how Fair Trade provides an excellent alternative for business.  They also visited a chartered school (Seaside School) where they spoke to students of a Spanish class.  Discussions of setting up a long-term relationship between students and faculty at the school and ACOES reaffirmed the Fair Trade principle of going beyond a simple business transaction. 

Amavida also arranged and hosted an event in which Rogelio presented the coop and the benefits that they've witnessed because of their Fair Trade partnership with Cooperative Coffees.

Don Rogelio and Oscar undoubtedly left a deep impression on the communities they visited and spoke to; as Dan puts it "it's one thing to hear it from us [the roasters]; it's totally different when it comes from them."  This successful producer tour affirmed the indispensability of a direct, face-to-face connection between Northern consumers and Southern producers. 

A big Thank You to everyone who helped make this happen and to Don Rogelio and Oscar for their willingness to travel!  We hope to see you both again!