Cooperative Coffees: A Coffee Family

by | Oct 5, 2016 | Coffee, Community, Sourcing, The Amavida Family

When you think of what a family is, what is your first initial thought? Maybe your mom, dad, a sister or a brother? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines family as a “specific group of people that may be made up of partners, children, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.” Although there are many definitions of what a family is, I like my own: “A group of like-minded individuals that work to promote the well-being of other human beings through actions that promote positivity and change throughout the world.”

Amavida Coffee is a member of Cooperative Coffees and has been since 2004.

Cooperative Coffees imports high-quality organic green coffee from small-scale farmer organizations to build long-term relationships to foster fair and equitable trading practices. Currently, with 22 members, Cooperative Coffees is a coop consisting of individuals with many different backgrounds but ultimately share a common vision and mission.

Cooperative Coffees measure its impacts to producers in terms of overall quality of life and their communities. Cooperative Coffees works with organizations like On The Ground that look to create lasting infrastructures built on gender equality and economic security. Other initiatives include clean water projects, education opportunities, and developing crop diversification.

Once a year Cooperative Coffees holds its Annual Group Meeting where members of Cooperative Coffees gather to discuss the state of the coffee industry, have cupping collaborations, issues that may be facing our producers, strategies for going forward, and future goals that the coop would like to accomplish. Every year a different member will host the AGM. This opens doors for members in the coop to share knowledge and experiences with other members.

As you have read, Cooperative Coffees and its actions as an organization defines my definition of what a family is and should be. The world is a very big place and any one individual can change the world, but changing the world collectively can start a movement that more people may see. I am proud of my family, I am proud of my coffee family, and I am proud to continue my journey with Cooperative Coffees to bring attention to world issues and to find solutions to those issues. We are all connected in some way shape or form.

Love the world and love each other.

-Colt Austin

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