 |
|
Listed below are brief descriptions of a few of the communities
that you are helping to support through your purchase of Grounds
for Change coffee. Fair
trade coffee is especialy important now, due to the coffee
crisis that is devastating coffee-producing communities
around the globe.
Guatemala
This region is a beautiful combination of jungle and rainforest,
with coffee growing throughout the forest floor. Among the
coffee, a variety of other plants provide food for the producers
and their families. It is very common to see bananas, beans,
peppers, oranges, lemons and avocados growing within this
diversified forest. This group of 366 coffee producers are
spread out over the rugged mountain terrain, some as far away
as a 3-4 hour walk. These growers exclusively offer their
coffee as Fair Trade and when asked what they see as one of
the greatest benefits of Fair Trade, they replied, "The
men do not have to leave the village to work in the coastal
area after the coffee harvest; they can remain home with their
families."
Sumatra
From the scenic highland slopes of the Gayo Mountains in Northern
Sumatra, comes the "Telong" Sumatra coffee. There
are over 200 small coffee producers who contribute to this
very important OCIA certified organic coffee production. The
farmers and communities of this remote region face a number
of environmental and socio-economic challenges, including
soil erosion, deforestation, low and unstable incomes. The
organization, production, technical assistance and higher
prices for certified organic coffee help these remote farmers
by being able to generate a better income for themselves and
improve the economic basis in the communities.
Bolivia
The road from the Bolivian capital, La Paz, to the coffee
growing valleys of the Yungas has officially been declared
the most dangerous road in the world. The relatively narrow
gravel track with waterfalls spilling onto it from above,
and huge drops on the downhill slope, descends nearly 10,000
feet to the misty valleys of the Yungas.
During the 1950's, wealthy landowners took
over this region and enslaved the native people. In 1991,
through governmental land reform, the larger landowners were
made to relinquish their holdings of these small farms and
return the rightful ownership back to the native people. The
small farmers are now entirely independent, have title to
their own land and have freedom to search for ways to improve
their income, their own lives, and the health of their community.
|
