“The Whole Process is Better.”

Sustainability effort: Partnership with Rainforest Alliance to help coffee and cocoa farmers develop and maintain sustainable growing practices.

Location: Africa, Asia and Latin America

Working to Improve Lives

Through Rainforest Alliance certification program, farmers learn to protect the environment and wildlife on their farms and develop a more sustainable livelihood through improved growing practices.

Our partnership with Rainforest Alliance began in 2003 to develop sustainably-grown coffee. In 2006, we purchased approximately 25 million pounds of coffee from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms, doubling our purchases from 2005.  We expect the market for sustainable products to continue to grow while the Rainforest Alliance program continues to improve conditions for farmers, their families and their workers.

Real-life results
A few years ago, world coffee prices dropped when farmers in Latin America and Asia flooded the market with coffee. Alvaro Llobet, a Costa Rican coffee farmer, like most others, had grown full-sun coffee, maintaining it with an intense chemical regimen. He changed his farming methods to earn the Rainforest Alliance certification seal, helping him better manage his farm while reducing his use of chemicals, protecting the environment and improving the lives of his workers.

Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms like Alvaro’s feature varied species of trees that help reduce soil erosion, shade the coffee and provide a home for birds and other migratory animals.  These certified farms also ensure decent wages for workers, dignified living conditions, and access to education and health care for farm families.

“What this program has done is improve our farming techniques and create truly sustainable agriculture in which the whole process is better and we have better productivity that we had lost before.”