Giant And Transfair Brew up New Fair Trade Coffee Initiatives
Giant Food will partner with TransFair USA, the nation's only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products, to offer five varieties of Fair Trade Certified coffee in all 199 Giant and Super G stores.
Giant Food will partner with TransFair USA, the nation's only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products, to offer five varieties of Fair Trade Certified coffee in all 199 Giant and Super G stores. The Fair Trade Certified" organic coffee is marketed under the brand name Cafe JaVaNa gourmet coffee and is available in five blends -- Breakfast Blend, French Roast, Colombian, Sumatran, and Sumatran Decaf.
"Giant has a long standing record as a socially responsible company. Offering Fair Trade Certified coffee to our customers builds on that commitment," said Barry Scher, Vice President of Public Affairs for Giant Food. "Fair Trade Certified is the gold standard of socially responsible certification initiatives. And Giant is happy to partner with TransFair USA to bring the Fair Trade experience to our suppliers and customers."
"TransFair applauds Giant for its leadership and commitment to a fair deal for coffee farmers around the world, said Paul Rice, president and CEO of TransFair USA. "Each purchase of Fair Trade Certified coffee enables family farmers to stay on the land, keep their kids in school and invest in the future. Moreover, Giant's Fair Trade coffee launch is capturing the attention of the entire industry, signaling the arrival of Fair Trade products in mainstream channels."
Over the past five years, the world market price for coffee has fallen 70%. Last year, prices dipped to their lowest ever, creating a crisis for 25 million farmers around the world who depend on coffee for their livelihood. Today, most small farmers are unable to cover their production costs or provide a decent living for their families.
By selling their coffee under internationally accepted Fair Trade standards, family farmers are guaranteed a fair price. Fair Trade helps farmers to bootstrap their way out of desperate poverty.
Since its founding five years ago, TransFair USA has certified 41 million pounds of coffee, generating $34 million of additional income for small farmers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Farmers typically use the additional income to cover production costs and improve healthcare, housing, and education for their families. Higher incomes also allow farmers to devote more meticulous attention to their crops to ensure a high quality harvest.
Almost 85% of Fair Trade Certified coffee in the U.S. is also certified organic and most is grown under the canopy of bird-friendly shade trees, protecting wildlife habitats and the soil.
"Giant has a long standing record as a socially responsible company. Offering Fair Trade Certified coffee to our customers builds on that commitment," said Barry Scher, Vice President of Public Affairs for Giant Food. "Fair Trade Certified is the gold standard of socially responsible certification initiatives. And Giant is happy to partner with TransFair USA to bring the Fair Trade experience to our suppliers and customers."
"TransFair applauds Giant for its leadership and commitment to a fair deal for coffee farmers around the world, said Paul Rice, president and CEO of TransFair USA. "Each purchase of Fair Trade Certified coffee enables family farmers to stay on the land, keep their kids in school and invest in the future. Moreover, Giant's Fair Trade coffee launch is capturing the attention of the entire industry, signaling the arrival of Fair Trade products in mainstream channels."
Over the past five years, the world market price for coffee has fallen 70%. Last year, prices dipped to their lowest ever, creating a crisis for 25 million farmers around the world who depend on coffee for their livelihood. Today, most small farmers are unable to cover their production costs or provide a decent living for their families.
By selling their coffee under internationally accepted Fair Trade standards, family farmers are guaranteed a fair price. Fair Trade helps farmers to bootstrap their way out of desperate poverty.
Since its founding five years ago, TransFair USA has certified 41 million pounds of coffee, generating $34 million of additional income for small farmers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Farmers typically use the additional income to cover production costs and improve healthcare, housing, and education for their families. Higher incomes also allow farmers to devote more meticulous attention to their crops to ensure a high quality harvest.
Almost 85% of Fair Trade Certified coffee in the U.S. is also certified organic and most is grown under the canopy of bird-friendly shade trees, protecting wildlife habitats and the soil.
