Spring has sprung here at Peace Coffee, though in Minnesota we're never too sure if we've finally made the transition from one season to another. But with the warmer weather, we can get back out on our bikes, as more than 1,000 cyclists did at the recent 2005 Allianz Life MS 60/30 Bike Tour, sponsored in part by Peace Coffee (see Community Caravan). First up though is an article from our fearless leader Scott Patterson, who shares his observations from the SCAA meeting about the continuing challenges of the Fair Trade model. Also in the issue, Brad the Bike Messenger shares his Nicaragua journal, and we spotlight a new Community Partner. And we've got a new trivia question and a recipe. Grab a mug of Peace Coffee and enjoy...

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by Scott Patterson, Peace Coffee Director

I recently attended the 17th annual Specialty Coffee Association of America Conference held in Seattle. Having attended three prior SCAA exhibitions I was prepared for the mind-numbing array of products and accessories; how many different artificially flavored syrups do we really need -- especially when you can get Peace Coffee, right? At the same time, the growth of specialty coffee and independent cafes has created a unique space for the explosive growth of Fair Trade coffee in this country. Rather than wander the aisles hunting for the next hot product, Peace Coffee attends these extravaganzas to connect with many of the farmers that we work with who set up booths in the Fair Trade “zone” of the convention center. I arrived in Seattle with a new goal this year; to better understand some of the challenges facing Fair Trade that have been unearthed by changes in the conventional coffee market.

Read on...

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On Saturday, May 7th, 2005, nearly 1,000 cyclists and 200 volunteers got together in Maplewood, MN to raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis. Peace Coffee sponsored this event and served up our French Roast in the spirit of the Tour de France to help give the riders and volunteers a little extra “boost” for the day.

The 2005 Allianz Life MS 60/30 Bike Tour will likely raise $175,000 to fund programs for people in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin who are affected by multiple sclerosis. This year is the 10th anniversary of the bike tour. This event provides participants with a fully supported route and frequent rest stops serving water, energy drinks, fruit, snacks, bicycle mechanics and safety volunteers.

The event is extremely well organized. People who plan to participate in the event can visit the MS Society web site to find a suggested training program, advice on nutrition during training, as well as essential gear, cycling technique, building fitness, sports nutrition and other important topics. The tutorial was created by the MS Bike Tour Advisory Board, which is made up of leading experts in cycling and related areas.

The MS Society’s finance department is hard at work counting the pledges received at the tour and they expect to have totals of how much each individual and team raised by the end of May.

We at Peace Coffee look forward to continuing our support for this important and fun event. For more information about the Allianz Life MS 60/30, and other related events, visit www.nationalmssociety.org

The 10th Annual ART-A-WHIRL® Open Studio and Gallery Tour

ART-A-WHIRL HOURS
Friday, May 20th, 2005, 5pm – 9pm
Saturday, May 21st, 2005, Noon – 8pm
Sunday, May 22nd, 2005, Noon – 5pm

Peace Coffee will be served all weekend long at Altered Esthetics Gallery, one of the many open-studios and galleries that will be featured on the art tour of Northeast Minneapolis. Art-a-Whirl is an enticing event that calls and welcomes local and regional visitors who want to see the art being produced in NE. As visitors come to see the art, they also experience the NE Community. More than 300 artists participate, including potters, tile makers, painters, sculptors, musicians, photographers, glass blowers, printmakers, and textile designers. Come for the good coffee and the incredible art!
http://nemaa.org/art-a-whirl.html

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University Bank has begun serving free Peace Coffee to customers and guests. According to University Bank president David Reiling, “Peace Coffee shares our business philosophy that in order to be a great company, you have to first be a good company. Like our Bank, Peace Coffee is committed to being a corporate steward and conducting business that is socially responsible and benefits communities in need. We are happy to serve their delicious coffee as a token of our appreciation for our customers’ business. Please stop in for fresh cup!” 

University Bank, 200 University Ave W., St. Paul, MN 55103

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Think you know a lot about coffee? Then enter our Fair Grounds Trivia Contest. Click here for our question of the month. Entering is easy and it's FUN!

Abbey L. Lentner is the winner of last month's Coffee Knowledge question. She knew that Pope Clement VIII is generally credited with the spread of coffee's popularity in the early 1600s. Congratulations, Abbey!

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In honor of World Fair Trade Day on May 14th, we offer a trio of quotes:

“Peace is not the product of a victory or a command. It has no finishing line, no final deadline, no fixed definition of achievement. Peace is a never-ending process, the work of many decisions.”
-- Oscar Arias

Poverty is the worst form of violence.”
-- Gandhi

“Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone. But it is also securing the space for others to contribute the best that they have and all that they are.”
-- Hafsat Abiola

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• April 2005 Fair Trade Travels and Other Adventures, Nicaragua Trip Brings Fair Trade to Life by Anneka Kmiecik, Birchwood Café, Fair Trade in a Volatile Market by Bill Harris, Cooperative Coffees
• March 2005 Andy's Chiapas Journal (part two) by Andy Lambert, Converging For Fair Trade
• February 2005 Update On The Aceh Fund, Return To Chiapas (part one) by Andy Lambert, In Praise Of Hot Chocolate by Rachel Hiltsley
• January 2005 Tragedy's Wake: Update From Sumatra, How I Spent My Floating Holiday by Brad the Bike Messenger, A Coffee Science Experiment by Rachel Hiltsley, Resident Equipment Expert
• December 2004 Great Coffee the French Press Way, The Best Coffee in Town, Coffee+Beer=Friggin' Good. eh? 
• November 2004 My Other Bike is a Biodiesel, Biodiesel: It's What's Inside
• October 2004 A Peaceful Alternative to Petroleum, Don't Just Do It. Do It With Justice 
• September 2004 Santa Anita de la Union, The Beauty of the St. Paul Classic
• August 2004 Crema Café: Home of Sonny's Ice Cream,
• July 2004 Exploring Our Origins: Ethiopia
• June 2004 Journey through the Life of a Bean
• May 2004 Report from Colombia and Brad 's Big Bike Adventure
• April 2004 Nicaragua: Coffee and the Community at CECOCAFEN
• March 2004 Fair Trade Friends: United Students for Fair Trade
• February 2004 Mut Vitz and APECAFORMM Trip Reports
• January 2004 10 Good Things about a Bad Year
• December 2003 Global Exchange Fair Trade Challenge
• November 2003 Barriers to Fair Trade: NAFTA on Steroids
• October 2003 Dia de Los Muertos
• September 2003 Report from Cancun: Victory for Fair Trade
• August 2003 Fair Trade Friends: Oxfam America
• July 2003 Exploring Our Origins: Sumatra

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Fair Grounds is produced by:
Cooperative Coffees

Contact Information:

Orders and General Information
Phone - 612.870.3440 or 1.888.324.7872 
Fax - 612-677-3989
E-Mail - info@peacecoffee.com
Web - http://www.peacecoffee.com

Peace Coffee Crew*:
Anna Canning
Beth Backen
Rachel Hiltsley
Andy Lambert
Melanee Meegan
Michelle Ramier
Jamie Schumacher
TJ Semanchin
Scott Patterson

*We work together to get the coffee out to our customers. Although we have specific job titles, we all take turns switching roles and putting in time where it's needed most.

Peace Coffee Bikers*:
Brad Wilson

*Our bikers pack a mean trailer full of coffee. They are speedy as speedy gets. Watch out, when they are on the street, they mean business!

Fair Grounds is designed by:

Starstruck Design
335 West Gill Road
Gill, MA 01376

Contact Information:
Don Kruger 
Lynn Nichols
Phone - 413.863.7752
Fax - 413-863-7752 
Web - http://www.starstruckdesign.com

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