Sow The Seeds. Reap What You Sow.
by Keith Tomlinson, Head Roaster

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) was formed in 1986 in an effort to help save the family farm. In the mid-1980’s as prices dropped below the cost of production, national and international policies sent the message that farmers either had to be big or fall by the wayside. No longer was the labor of the local small farmer respected or honored. In 1986, IATP began its work proposing policies that would benefit farmers, consumers, rural communities, and the environment. IATP works in domestic and global policy and "advocates for Fair Trade policies that promote strong health standards, labor and human rights, the environment and, most fundamentally, democratic institutions."

Peace Coffee was formed ten years later by IATP, and thus we began our journey into selling Fair Trade coffee. Here at Peace Coffee we consider ourselves to be farmer friendly, but more than that we honor all of the labor and dedication that goes into getting green coffee into our doors. We know the people who grow our coffee and these friendships help shape our business.

It makes sense then that in 2006 IATP would partner with the Wedge Co-op in order to launch the Sow the Seeds Fund, and Peace Coffee would launch the Sow the Seeds Blend. The Sow the Seeds Fund is a partnership between area co-ops and IATP that "preserves farm land from development, distributes grants to local farmers and other organizations, and protects the environment through conservancy."

The Sow the Seeds Blend is a partnership between Ethiopian, Colombian and Sumatran coffees. The dark rich chocolates of the Colombian and the brightness of the Ethiopian combine with the body and finish of the Sumatran coffee to create a blend that spans the globe. In addition to the Fair Trade price being given to the coffee-producing farmers, for every pound of Sow the Seeds coffee sold, two dollars will go to the Sow the Seeds Fund.

Whether it is 100 pounds of coffee cherries being carried down a mountain, 400 pounds of roasted coffee being biked across the Twin Cities, or 500 bundles of kale being harvested in 20 degree weather, it is the fundamental respect of labor and the community that it creates that brings me joy in the work that Peace Coffee does. And, it makes the coffee taste that much better.

For more information: www.sowtheseedsfund.org
For a pound of Sow the Seeds Blend: www.peacecoffee.com

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