Enjoy a delicious cup of coffee that gives back.
From Jan. 23 to Feb. 23, Co-op and Van Houtte Coffee Services will donate the proceeds from every cup of fair trade coffee, up to a maximum of $15,000.
The donations will be used to support Union Majomut, an organization of more than 1,000 small coffee producers from 35 indigenous communities in the state of Chiapas in Southern Mexico. Chiapas is one of the poorest states in Mexico and continues to face overdependence on coffee production and lack of other economic opportunities.
Since 2011, the Co-op and Van Houtte partnership has raised $28,000. The funds have benefited the organization’s Women and Food Security Project (Mujeres and Securidad Alimentaria), which helps improve food security and self-sufficiency, diversifying food sources, while also protecting, growing and promoting local and traditional coffee varieties.
The money raised from partnership has been allocated as follows:
- 2011–2012: $12,687 was donated to grow poultry, increase vegetable production and support five groups of women representing more than 31 families. With this money, these women were able to purchase seven electric egg incubators, an electric generator, four lots of vegetable seeds and a training and capacity building.
- 2013–2014: $11,181 helped facilitate organic, local and traditional cultures, while locally promoting their use. Greenhouses were purchased to produce tomatoes, chillies, onions and peanuts. The money also went to build and supply earthworm units to produce natural fertilizer and improve the soil and runoff water quality.
- 2015: $4,090 was donated to grow food diversity and organic culture projects. With this donation, groups repaired greenhouse infrastructure, built more earthworm units, bought more seeds and worms and delivered workshops on coffee expertise development, whole farm planning and food production.
Visit a participating Co-op Gas Bar/Convenience Store today and make a difference with a purchase of Van Houtte fair trade coffee.