Alterra Coffee became a licensed Fair Trade roaster in 2002. We currently source eight Fair Trade Certified coffees (six single-origins and two decafs) and rank among the top roasters in the country based on total volume of Fair Trade Certified coffees purchased. Our involvement with Fair Trade dates back to 1998, however, when we initiated a long-term relationship with the Kulaktik cooperative in Chiapas, Mexico. Under this arrangement we purchase organic coffee from the cooperative at a Fair Trade price and also send 25¢ for every roasted pound we sell, which amounts to thousands of dollars sent back to the cooperative every year. This “give-back money” is then earmarked for business development and quality control projects including purchase of a delivery truck and industrial scales and construction of a “cupping” (tasting) laboratory, concrete fermentation tanks, and a coffee tree nursery.
More recently we’ve established a similar partnership with PRODECOOP, an association of Fair Trade Certified cooperatives in northern Nicaragua. The coffees selected for our Nicaragua Don Zeledón encourage a focus on quality and result in financial give-backs for health and hygiene initiatives. Our commitment to sourcing great coffees also led us to Cooperativa las Capucas in Honduras. This October, keep an eye out for two amazing micro-lots from Las Capucas farmers Jose Isidro Lara and Pedro Antonio Romero. Both were winners of an inter-cooperative competition attended and judged by our very own George Bregar (green coffee buyer) and Scott Lucey (barista trainer)!
To celebrate Fair Trade Month, Alterra is pleased to offer our online customers 10% off all Fair Trade coffees and teas throughout the month of October. Just enter the code FAIRTRADE2009 when proceeding to the online checkout and click the “Apply” button! (Offer valid October 1st - October 31st only.)
Comments
2009 09 30
Thanks for making us pleased and proud to buy your fair trade coffees in support of the farmers and co-ops of Central America and elsewhere in the world. Keep up the good work and we’ll keep ordering your great coffees!
2009 10 11
i am the manager of the cooperative Capucas, Thanks for buy our coffee, and support our farmers.
2009 10 13
I am the manager of Fair Trade For All. I heard from a customer that you featured us in your October Newsletter. What a nice surprise! Thank you Alterra. BTW, I’m a regular customer at your Tosa location. Great coffee and great customer survice in addition to supporting farmers.