11/29/2023 0 Comments Equal exchange coffeeWith Co-op to Co-op pricing at just $10.99/lb, you get an approachable, affordable, delicious cup of coffee you can feel good sipping on, knowing you’re supporting farmers who are getting paid a fair wage for their work and communities that benefit both socially and economically through the Equal Exchange model. Co-op Principle 6: Cooperation Amongst CooperativesĪlong with leading the charge on the Fair Trade movement, Equal Exchange is also a worker-owned co-operative that’s over 130 worker-owners strong! In an act of Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives (Co-op Principle 6), Equal Exchange is able to provide us with a reliable source of beans that are fairly priced. ![]() ![]() EE has been a staple in our Co-op for years, and their values align directly with ours. While there are several quality coffee companies in the area, all with different areas of specialty, but after much due diligence, we decided to build on our existing relationship with Equal Exchange. Like the original search for good beans way-back-when, we spent time researching, interviewing, discussing, and, of course, tasting beans from roasters around the region. So, the Fair Trade organic beans we’ve come to rely on, are unfortunately, not as reliable we need them to be to continue to serve you a consistently good (and fair) cup of coffee day in and day out. The ripple effect of the pandemic and political unrest in coffee-growing regions continue to impact supply chains across the globe, including coffee. The Co-op’s storage situation has always been a tricky one, and as the store continues to grow, we’re running out of room to store the appropriate amount of coffee beans we need to have on hand.Īlong with some internal limitations, shipping costs for a large load of green beans have sky rocketed. Our tiny little roaster isn’t equipped for the volume we need to produce for our customers – you certainly do love your coffee! Our space is also limited, for roasting and for storing beans. We set out to roast coffee because finding Fair-Trade organic coffee was hard to do it is much more common now. Now, we are transitioning for several reasons, but the simple fact is, the Co-op is not a roastery. So, the Co-op began sourcing coffee beans that adhered to our buying guidelines and aligned with our principles of treating people and planet fairly. Espresso stands weren’t always a thing, and sourcing Fair Trade organic shade-grown coffee beans was a rarity. The Co-op began roasting its own coffee in the late 90s as the popularity of coffee surged, to fill a very important need: a delicious cup of coffee that was also ethically and sustainably sourced. Like our decision to partner with Olympia Coffee Roasters in our Deli, the Equal Exchange relationship sustains our longstanding mission to provide good food (and coffee) at a good price. You might wonder why we’re no longer roasting coffee here at the Co-op. Why Equal Exchange Coffee?īut first, coffee. Nowadays, Equal Exchange specializes in not only fair trade coffee, but also chocolate, dried fruit, nuts, tea, and even cheese. They achieve this through sourcing ingredients from small farmer or artisan cooperatives, offering higher than conventional market prices, prohibiting the use of more dangerous pesticides and herbicides, and more. Founders Rink, Jonathan, and Michael started Equal Exchange with an idea: what if food could be traded in a way that is honest and fair, a way that empowers both farmers and consumers?Īfter taking a big risk by importing fairly traded coffee from Nicaragua in 1986, the founders were able to solidify a relationship with farmers in Latin America, and the rest is history.Įqual Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound.
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