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Thanksgiving Coffee Co.
The coffees we have selected represent more than just Fair Trade coffees; they are environmentally sustainable, they support wildlife, and in the case of the Mirembe Kawomera, they represent peace! Causes supported by these coffees in addition to Fair Trade include:
Gorilla Fund Coffee - Donation to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, supports trackers that protect the endangered mountain gorilla from poachers.
Mirembe Kawomera - Supports the unique interfaith Ugandan co-op where Jewish, Muslim, and Christian farmers work together in a peaceful manner for the greater good of the community. Truly an inspiring project!
Java Forest - Donation to the Defenders of Wildlife to continue their efforts to protect wildlife and wild places in North America.
Song Bird Coffees - Donation to The American Birding Association and promotion of shade grown coffees to preserve the habitat of migratory birds of North America, including the rapidly disappearing song birds.
The importance of shade grown coffees:
PRESERVING FORESTS AND PEOPLE
Traditionally and naturally, most coffee has been grown in the shade of rainforests. Beginning in 1972, farmers have been encouraged to increase crop yields by clearcutting their farms and switching to new sun-tolerant hybrids.
The slow but steady conversion to sun-grown coffee has resulted in massive deforestation that continues to this day. Sun growing has also increased pollution, as it requires chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides unnecessary for shade growing. Once committed to this technified process, farmers can find themselves unable to afford the requisite chemicals in times of natural disasters and lean harvests.
PRESERVING HABITAT
Many birds familiar to North Americans migrate to the canopies of Latin American rainforests. In fact, 33% of all migratory birds that breed in the United States spend winter in coffee growing areas of Latin America.
Shade coffee farms support over 150 species of birds. This is a far greater number than is found in other agricultural habitats and is only slightly exceeded in undisturbed rainforests. In the midst of shrinking rainforest habitat, migratory birds have found sanctuary in shade-grown farms.
Source: Thanksgiving Coffee Co. (www.thanksgivingcoffee.com)
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