Meet Coffee Farmers
Women Own Fruits of their Coffee Labors
Fair Trade Coffee Strategy Secures Farmers’ Profits
Meet Our Fair Trade Fans
Meet CRS’ U.S. Coffee Partners
Sowing the Grounds for Change
Kelsey Marshall of Grounds for Change
Poulsbo, WA
Tell us a little about your organization?
“Grounds for Change is a family-owned coffee roastery located in the Seattle area. We are in our 7th year of business and have 8 employees. Attention to the social, environmental and financial impacts of conducting business forms the foundation of Grounds for Change. Out of this concern grows premium quality, great service and passion for our trade. The result is a truly exceptional cup of coffee.
Every single bean we roast is Fair Trade Certified™, Organic Certified, CarbonFree® Certified and Shade Grown, which means the possibility of a real livelihood for coffee growers, a breath of fresh air for the planet, zero net carbon emissions from “crop to cup” and healthy forests for migratory songbirds.
We are passionate about operating as a green business and have received a Washington award for Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability. We are a member of 1% for the Planet and donate well over 1% of our total sales to various environmental organizations.”
Why have you chosen to be a fully committed Fair Trade organization?
“We feel that offering one or two “token” Fair Trade coffees is not a true commitment to the movement. It is important to fully support what it is that you believe in. Our customers love the fact that we are 100% Fair Trade Organic Certified.”
What do you feel your role is in your community and in your producer partners’ communities?
“We strive to bring the finest quality Fair Trade Organic coffee to people and coffee shops around the country, while still keeping our prices on par with conventional roasters so that more people can afford Fair Trade coffee.”
Why do you think Catholic involvement in the Fair Trade movement is important?
“Greater awareness of the impact that Fair Trade can have amongst individuals that truly care and are compassionate towards others.”
Do you purchase coffee from a cooperative CRS is working with at origin?
“PRODECOOP in Nicaragua”
Besides price, what impact do you feel Fair Trade has had on producer communities?
“ Improved stability and improved access to credit that is not predatory in nature. Improved access to health care and clean water.”
CRS believes each of their partners is unique? If you had to define the “uniqueness” of your organization, what would the definition be?
“In a continuing effort to make every aspect of our business sustainable, we have partnered with Carbonfund.org to offset 100% of the global warming emissions associated with our coffee. We are the first coffee roaster in the country to complete the rigorous third-party certification process necessary to obtain the CarbonFree® Certified Product label.
To get a product certified CarbonFree®, a company must submit the item for a detailed Life Cycle Analysis, a third-party process that formally scrutinizes the carbon emissions associated with every step in production. The resulting analysis accounts for all carbon dioxide emissions starting with a coffee plant and ending with an empty bag of coffee.
We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality coffee available. To us, that means Organic Certified, Fair Trade™ Certified and now CarbonFree® Certified – caring for ecosystems, workers and the climate.”
Fair Trade Thrives on Higher Grounds
Interview with Chris Treter
Higher Grounds Trading Company,
Traverse City, MI
Can you tell me a little about your organization? How long you’ve been in business? How many staff? Your mission? Where are you located?
The organization was founded in 2002, we have been successfully working strongly with our staff members for seven years now; we have approximately 12 staff members.
Our mission is to eradicate poverty, educate more people in the communities, build health care clinics, and build education facilities and to continue having growing groups in cooperatives in fair trade.
Why have you chosen to be a fully committed Fair Trade organization?
Higher Grounds was formed after its founders lived in Southern Mexico and experienced the effects of the coffee crisis and global economy on coffee growers. Those that do the vast majority of work in the coffee industry profit the least while coffee roasters and cafes stand to gain the lion’s share. We formed our company to combat the ills that have sickened the coffee industry and as such are a 100% fair trade and organic coffee roasting company that works on a number of grassroots development projects in coffee growing communities.
What do you feel your role is in your community and in your producer partners’ communities?
My personal role in my organization is to facilitate and to explore different opportunities in order to gain global solidarity and also to establish and maintain local economic sustainability.
What type of outreach do you do in the Catholic community in the U.S.?
We have been supporting Catholic community organizations since many of these organizations demonstrate and also help teach Catholic social teaching. We serve as guest speakers in churches and other Catholic communities to help educate the communities about Fair Trade. The connection to Catholic social teaching and social justice helps us reach out to larger communities; we’re able to educate more people and also to promote Fair Trade in parishes by talking to the priests, and the general public.
Higher Grounds was part of the Diocese of Gaylord’s first trip to Nicaragua to form a new partnership with the Diocese of Matagalpa.
What type of outreach do you do in the communities you purchase your products from?
We host various types of tours to producing countries (such as Ethiopia and Mexico), we usually travel with college students, high school students, faculty/staff members; and church group members. We also provide personal tours to coffee-producing companies for groups.
We purchase some of our products from CRS supported cooperatives:
- Guatemala- Granja Juana Ana, Santa Anita La Union
- Nicaragua- CECOSEMAC
Besides price, what impact do you feel Fair Trade has had on producer communities?
It has helped many communities move in the right direction and also helped them establish a sustainable growth. Fair Trade has helped with the construction of schools, health clinics, and water systems. It has also helped establish a direct relationship to sustain the community and the local economy.
From all of your experiences with Fair Trade, can you share a memorable experience.
The farmers of Maya Vinic in Chiapas, Mexico have come a long way since they first formed their cooperative and entered the fair trade market. In 1997 many of their farmers and loved ones were victims of a horrific massacre as they prayed and fasted for peace in their chapel. From the ashes of that horrific experience they formed Maya Vinic and Higher Grounds has been working with them since selling their first fair trade coffee in 2001. Since that time the co-op has seen great growth and their farmers are receiving a consistent fair wage for their beans and hope for their future. Higher Grounds – through the sale of their fair trade coffee – has built a water project in their communities and helped fund a number of cooperative development projects.
CRS believes each of their partners is unique? If you had to define the “uniqueness” of your organization, what would the definition be?
Higher Grounds was formed as a 100% fair trade and organic coffee roasting company dedicated to creating direct relationships with long-term growing partners to ensure community sustainability and the highest quality coffee available. We have formed different education and water projects using our own resources coupled with those of concerned consumers to increase community sustainability abroad while dedicating resources and time to build our own local community. We also lead fair trade tours to coffee growing regions where consumers can learn about our partner growers culture and issues both global and local which they face. If you are ever in the Traverse City area you can come visit our Roastery and Coffee Bar to have a handcrafted cup of coffee, espresso drink, homemade hot chocolates and chais while you watch us busy at work roasting our beans. Learn more at http://www.highergroundstrading.com
