Coffee: A Just Cup   Serve and Drink Sustainable Coffee Enjoy a cup of coffee which supports social justice in the third world, sustains the environment and tastes good as well. For centuries coffee has grown in the shade under forest cover, providing a wonderful drink for people around the world, an attractive environment for birds and other wildlife, and a peaceful, productive living for growers. About 20 years ago sun tolerant coffee varieties were developed. These varieties permitted intensive one-crop agriculture, leading to higher yields (although typically inferior in taste). Vast areas were cleared of forest cover and production increased worldwide. Now coffee is selling on world markets at all-time lows due to overproduction -- below the cost of production in many parts of the world. Coffee growers are being forced to abandon the land for other crops. Workers migrate to cities or the risk illegal entry into the U.S. in search of jobs to feed their families. The coffee that your church serves at coffee hour and other functions can make a difference for families in the third world and for the songbirds that fill your trees in summer months, but migrate in winter to warmer climes. Coffee is available that is grown in the shade of forests, without chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and purchased through cooperatives which provide a fair price to the growers. And it's available to your church and your church members. Our Partner: Thanksgiving Coffee After researching numbers of specialty coffee suppliers, your Diocese's Environmental Commission has made arrangements with Thanksgiving Coffee to provide coffee to every congregation of the Diocese at wholesale prices. Thanksgiving Coffee was chosen because of the quality of its product, the company's dedication to sustaining tropical environments and supporting rural communities and and its partnership with conservation organizations. Further the firm expresses firm environmental commitment in all their production activities. Peter Matlin, Thanksgiving Coffee's wholesale representative offers to personalize your church's coffee order, assuring that you have the right coffee, made the right way, to provide the best cup of coffee. But don't just order for the coffee hour and church functions. Spread the word in the congregation and aggregate orders for your parish's coffee lovers to use at home, as well. This coffee is for everyone. And progress will be made cup by cup. Go to the Thanksgiving Coffee website for more information on a Just Cup and their line of coffee products. Before you order, we suggest you have the following information available: The size and type of coffee makers you use. The number of people that you serve The specific coffees that you now use - regular, decaf, grind, roast All orders for members of your congregation must be placed through your church for wholesale pricing. Order forms will be sent to you by fax or mail. Orders will be shipped prepaid or net 30 days. Call Peter Matlin (Ext 34) or Patty Ellis (Ext 13) at 800-462-1999 They also are available by e-mail pmatlin@thanksgivingcoffee.com pattyellis@thanksgivingcoffee.com   Web Links to Organizations Supporting Sustainable Coffee American Birding Association American Friends Service Committee Atlanta Audubon Society Conservation International Consumer Choice Council Equiterre- A Just Coffee Campaign Fair Trade Federation Global Exchange International Federation for Alternative Trade Lutheran World Relief National Arbor Day Foundation Oxfam America Seattle Audubon Society Smithsonian Institution Songbird Foundation Rainforest Alliance TransFair USA Additional Web Links for Sustainable Coffee Interesting background information may be found by clicking this LINK   Environmental Commission of the Diocese of Newark Co-Chairmen The Rev. Fletcher Harper e-mail - StLHaworth@aol.com The Rev. Edward M. Hasse, III e-mail - edhasse@aol.com   Return to Environmental Commission Homepage Return to Diocese of Newark Homepage