The Difference That Fair Trade Makes: Land of A Thousand Hills Coffee

This is a guest post by Meg Massey. Learn more about how you can guest post for Daily Shot Of Coffee here.

As Mike pointed out in an earlier post, October is Fair Trade Month.  Thankfully, he has graciously permitted me to share a little bit about one of my favorite fair trade organizations, Land of A Thousand Hills Coffee, a company making a difference in the country of Rwanda.  The company was even featured on CNN in October of 2009.

Several weeks ago, at a conference in New Jersey, I had the opportunity to learn a little more about Land of A Thousand Hills.  Not only did I have the chance to sample some amazing coffee, including a delicious nutty dark blend, but I heard stories from Relationship Director Robert Crowe that inspired me to consider the difference that fair trade makes in the lives of others.

In April 1994, Rwanda experienced one of history’s most devastating genocides, where in just one hundred days, one million ethnic Tutsi and moderate Hutu sympathizers lost their lives at the hands of the extremist Hutu militia.  In the wake of civil war, the county of Rwanda recognized a need for restoration, calling on the church and outside countries for support in their time of need.

In 2001, the founder of Land of a Thousand Hills felt the need to help when he discovered that the genocide had devastated the Rwandan coffee growing community, leaving surviving growers in unjust working conditions.  This prompted him to invest in a roaster and a few bags of green coffee beans from the region, which in turn launched a movement.  Beans are now harvested and purchased directly from farmers in Rwanda, ensuring a fair, living wage for the workers.  Hutus and Tutsis now work together side by side, restoring relationships and breaking down walls that once divided their country.

So what does this have to do with you?

You can help transform a country and aid in the reconciliation process by simply drinking a cup of Land of a Thousand Hills coffee.  Check out a review of Land of a Thousand Hills’ Rwandan Bukonya Ikawa coffee, as shared here just last year!    Visit their website at http://www.drinkcoffeedogood.com to find out more ways to contribute to the exciting mission of this fair trade company.

In the busyness of our day-to-day lives, it’s easy to feel like we’re not really making a difference.  But wouldn’t it be great to know that as you sip your Rwandan blend in the morning, you’re contributing to the livelihood of a widow who lost her family, or toward the repair of a friendship once severed by hate?

I can tell you that it will make that morning cup of coffee taste a whole lot better.

Marketing professional by day, freelance writer by night, Meg Massey shares her daily musings on her blog, Morning Cup With Meg.

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Special thanks go out to Robert Crowe, for provided images and information.

Category: Coffee Information