There is an array of labels out there– each pledging to the consumer that their coffee is socially and environmentally responsible.

But how can you differentiate between fact and fiction? What do these labels actually mean for the farmers, workers and their families and the natural environment in these coffee growing regions?

Rogers Estate Coffees, the UK producer of gourmet coffee, has adopted its own standard: “Fairly Traded.” This program exceeds the goals of some labelling organisations such as Fair Trade and ensures that the workers who produce your coffee beans are given the payment they deserve. This is done through setting up long term contracts with single estate famers, which enable these coffee famers to treat their employees fairly, improve local ecosystems and make a decent profit.

Did you know that your coffee choice has a global impact?

Coffee affects an estimated half a billion people around the globe, from pickers to roasters to retailers. The low prices in the coffee market actually mean that coffee farmers are under great pressure and financial stress. Many must sell their coffee beans way below their cost of production in a desperate attempt to make a living. This leaves them greatly in debt and facilitates the increasing levels of poverty in the coffee growing regions of Central and South America. Worse still, the situation puts pressure on famers to implement bad farming practices (such as the growing of illegal crops, poor maintenance of land and even abandoning and selling their farms) in an outcry to make money to support their families.

What are the Differences (and similarities) between Fairly Traded, Community Aid and Fair Trade?

Rogers Estate Coffees’ Community Aid /Fairly Traded coffee and Fair Trade both strive to help break the cycle of poverty in coffee-growing lands. Both programs promote long-term fixed contracts and direct imports from farmers to bypass middlemen.

However, not all coffee farms are small enough to be organized into cooperatives (a prerequisite for farmers participating in Fair Trade). Many large coffee farms with which Rogers Estate Coffees does business often hire the local, indigenous population to work on their farms. So, when importing coffee from a farm that is not small (and therefore not a member of a Fair Trade cooperative), it is impossible to get Fair Trade certificate for the coffee. But poverty is still a problem for the local community and the workers on the large farms.

The ‘Coffee Community Aid program’ extends Rogers Estate Coffees Fairly Traded promise and fills this void that cannot be addressed by Fair Trade. In a vow to tackle the appalling poverty in coffee farms, Community Aid turns “Fairly Traded” coffee into houses, schools and medical clinics for thousands of workers and their families - while preserving native plants and animals and restoring rainforest. This year, Rogers will invest $US 1 million in their Coffee Community Aid programme. Unlike other programs, the Rogers Family Co. ensures that all Community Aid funds go only to farmers, workers and their families for social or environmental projects that help break the cycle of poverty and improve the quality of life for the workers and their families.

From 2001 to 2007, 18 schools, 125 bathrooms, 119 housing units, 12 clinics, and 52 kitchens were constructed in communities in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Rwanda, New Guinea, Sumatra, Ethiopia and Columbia via the Community Aid program.

Notes to editor:

Rogers Estate Coffees actually pay more for their coffee than Fair Trade – up to $1.40 per pound; (in some instances much more) which is substantially more than the average market price – thereby exceeding labelling organisations’ standards – to ensure a farm’s long-term viability.

Each year, Pete Rogers visits dozens of coffee farms – from Mexico to Rwanda - not only to ensure a source of the world’s finest Arabica coffee beans but also to see firsthand that the Rogers’ partner farms are meeting Roger’s standards for socially and environmentally responsible coffee production. He tours all of its partner farms as part of a 20-plus year commitment to permanently improve the quality of life for thousands of coffee farm workers and protect nature in the world’s premier coffee growing regions.

You may be wondering how Pete communicates with the coffee farmers? He is fluent in Spanish and culturally sensitive to the workers in the South American regions, enabling him to have a close working relationship with the Roger’s coffee famers and their workers.

Pete helped launch the Rogers Estate Coffees “Community Aid” program in 1986 when he vowed to address the “appalling” poverty he witnessed on his first trip to Guatemala to source coffee beans.

From its first small project – supplying pencils and paper to a struggling school – Community Aid now turns the company’s Fairly Traded coffee into houses, schools, medical clinics and food while focusing on education to break the cycle of poverty at farms in over 10 countries. Once described by a reporter as a “mini-Peace Corps,” a Community Aid program starts with paying farmers enough to ensure they meet the cost of production and then its contribution to the farm goes up.

Community Aid has completed hundreds of social and environmental projects, including modern houses as well as medical facilities, schools and day care centers for thousands of coffee farm workers and their families.

Community Aid also provides permanent educational programs and scholarships, doctors, nurses, teachers, food and clothing, clean drinking water and energy systems and also protects native plants and animals including endangered species.

To read more about the community aid programs take a look at the case studies here: http://www.rogersestatecoffees.co.uk/index.php?id=82

The newly added San Francisco Bay products are:

• Columbian Supremo ground coffee - which is a world renowned, full bodied coffee with an almost sweet taste . The second addition for those who prefer decaf is a decaffeinated version!

• Espresso Roast ground coffee – which is a very rich full bodied coffee that is perfect for regular coffee or an espresso – a perfect choice for coffee lovers!

The San Francisco Bay range of premium gourmet coffees reflects the birthplace of Rogers Family Company. The Rogers family have been experts in growing, harvesting and roasting coffees for over 30 years. The San Francisco Bay coffees are top quality, environmentally and socially responsible and are your bridge to the world of outstanding coffee.

Every purchase of Fairly Traded coffee from Rogers Estate Coffees supports the companies’ unique “Coffee Community Aid” program. Community Aid continuously raises the quality of life for thousands of farmers and workers while preserving or restoring the environment in coffee growing regions.

To purchase the new coffee flavors or to benefit from the free delivery visit the online shop: http://www.rogersestatecoffees.co.uk/shop/Buy-Premium-Coffee-Online

About Rogers Estate Coffees
Rogers Estate Coffees is a UK subsidiary of Rogers Family Coffee Co., one of the largest family owned coffee roasters in the USA. The company prides itself on its Community Aid projects and the premium quality of its coffees. Their green coffee beans come from coffee estates and farms as well as from their own farms in Panama. Visit http://www.rogersestatecoffees.co.uk to find out more.

For those of you who love coffee and pancakes alike, Rogers Estate Coffees, the leading supplier of gourmet coffee, has put together a nice adaptation of a Tiramisu Pancake Recipe.

Simply add a teaspoon of one of their flavoured roasted ground coffees to the Tiramisu Pancake recipe below and enjoy.

The Cafe Flavours range is made up of:

• Belgian Coffee
• Chocolate Raspberry
• Irish Cream
• Wild Hazelnut

Tiramisu Pancake Recipe (serves 4)

Ingredients

• 1 packet frozen pancakes
• 4oz cream cheese
• 4oz Mascarpone cheese
• 1/3 cup of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of your chosen flavour of Rogers Estate Coffees ground coffee
• 1 tablespoon water

1. Warm the pancakes according to the directions on the package
2. Beat the cream cheese, mascarpone cheese and sugar in a large bowl until combined. Dissolve the coffee in small amount of warm water and add to the cheese mixture and mix well.
3. Place a pancake onto a plate and dollop with the cheese mixture; repeat the layers two more times, ending with a dollop of cheese mixture topping each stack. Sprinkle with cocoa if desired and serve immediately.

About Pancake Day

Pancake Day is always celebrated on a Tuesday and is also known as Shrove Tuesday. Pancake Day celebrates the start of the Christian celebration of Lent.

To order flavoured ground coffee visit the online shop: http://www.rogersestatecoffees.co.uk/shop/Buy-Premium-Coffee-Online

About Rogers Estate Coffees

Rogers Estate Coffees is a UK subsidiary of Rogers Family Coffee Co., one of the largest family owned coffee roasters in the USA. The company prides itself on its Community Aid projects and the premium quality of its coffees. Their green coffee beans come from small coffee estates and farms as well as from their own farms in Panama. The Rogers Estate Coffees product range also includes wholesale coffee perfect for hotels, bars, cafes and restaurants.

Visit http://www.rogersestatecoffees.co.uk to find out more.

In Colombia, this year’s harvest was the worst since 1974, due to bad weather, and was the third straight off-year. The ICO predicts that the coffee for the next crop year, beginning September 30, could fall well short of the 9.5 million bags predicted.

Bloomberg news reported that the price of coffee has already increased in New York and there are speculations of a similar effect to the global coffee market. “Premiums are bound to increase,” ICO Executive Director Nestor Osorio told Bloomberg on Friday.

Rogers Estate Coffees the UK subsidiary of the family-owned Rogers Family Company pledged that there will not be any reduction in its ‘Community Aid’ program which ensures that coffee farmers are always treated fairly, paid enough to make a reasonable profit and works with them to protect native plants, rainforest and wildlife. The Rogers Family Co. supplies its “Fairly Traded” gourmet coffee products to discriminating customers worldwide.

Jon Rogers, President of The Rogers Family Company, said,  “Regardless of any rise in coffee prices, which may come into effect in the future, we will continue to uphold our values of being fairly traded and pay our coffee farmers and workers the amount they deserve”.

The Fairly Traded and Community Aid programs employ a different approach than other roasters to address the socio-economic and environmental challenges in coffee growing regions.  One difference is that the company pays farmers more than the average market price – thereby exceeding labeling organisations’ standards – to ensure a farm’s long-term viability.  Unlike other programs, the Rogers Family Co. ensures that all Community Aid funds go only to farmers, workers and their families for social or environmental projects.

From its inaugural modest project – supplying pencils and paper to a struggling school – Community Aid now turns the company’s Fairly Traded coffee into houses, schools, medicals clinics and food while focusing on education to break the cycle of poverty at farms in 10 countries.   Once described by a reporter as a “Mini-Peace Corps”, Community Aid program starts with paying farmers enough to ensure they meet the cost of production and then its contribution to the farm goes up.

“Community Aid” has completed hundreds of social and environmental projects, including modern houses as well as medical facilities, schools and day care centers for thousands of coffee farm workers and their families.  Community Aid also provides permanent educational programs and scholarships, doctors, nurses, teachers, food and clothing, clean drinking water and energy systems and also protects native plants and animals including endangered species.

About Rogers Estate Coffees

Rogers Estate Coffees is a UK subsidiary of Rogers Family Coffee Co., one of the largest family owned coffee roasters in the USA. The company prides itself on its Community Aid projects and the premium quality of its coffees. Their green coffee beans come from small coffee estates and farms as well as from their own farms in Panama.

Contact Details: Peter Warden, Rogers Estate Coffees (UK) Ltd., Venture House, Arlington Square, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1WA. Tel: ++ 44 (0) 1344 742 821. Email: enquiries@rogersestatecoffees.co.uk

Instead of the usual self centred promises that we never keep like “I will join a gym” or “I will take better care of my finances”, why not think about making smaller changes that will have a big impact on those around you, such as your work colleagues and customers?

If your business involves the retail or supply of food and drink (to customers, suppliers or staff) why not rethink where you buy your wholesale coffee from?
Switching to Fairly Traded Coffee from Rogers Estate Coffees you can be confident that everyone drinking a cup in your establishment will actively be helping the fight against global warming, as well as ensuring that coffee farmers in third world countries are getting the payment they deserve.

This is because for every purchase of Fairly Traded Coffee from Rogers Estate Coffees the UK subsidiary of the Rogers Family Company - supports its groundbreaking “Coffee Community Aid” program. Community Aid continuously raises the quality of life for coffee farmers and workers while restoring the environment in coffee growing communities like Mexico and Rwanda.
Furthermore, as well as the satisfaction of knowing that you are purchasing a fairly traded product, offering your staff good and free coffee increases worker productivity according to a Harris Poll conducted in 2004!

If we haven’t convinced you enough, Rogers Estate Coffees are currently offering ‘5 for 4′ promotion on all wholesale coffee orders and free delivery within the UK. The offer is aimed at a diverse range of businesses - such as hotels, restaurants, cafes, offices and catering service providers. Or if you like to drink a lot of coffee why not stock up for personal consumption to last you the whole of 2010 from the premium coffee range!

Rogers Estate Coffees - the UK subsidiary of the Lincoln, California-based Rogers Family Company, a family-owned company whose Fairly Traded gourmet coffee and tea are sold worldwide – is offering free delivery* for any order of at least £4.95 of its Fairly Traded gourmet coffee. Rogers Estate Coffees is also launching two new gift bags which make perfect presents this Christmas. The organic gift bag contains a 24g sachet of each variety: full flavoured Gorilla Decaf, vibrant Hurricane Espresso, ultra-smooth Java Love and medium-bodied Rainforest Blend. For the more adventurous coffee drinker, the flavoured coffee gift bag has a 24g sachet of each flavour: rich Belgian Chocolate, delicious Chocolate Raspberry, famously rich Irish Cream and creamy Wild Hazelnut.

Every purchase of Fairly Traded coffee from Rogers Estate Coffees supports the companies’ unique “Coffee Community Aid” program. Community Aid continuously raises the quality of life for thousands of farmers and workers while preserving or restoring the environment in coffee growing regions.

The Fairly Traded and Community Aid programs employ a different approach than other roasters to address the socio-economic and environmental challenges in coffee growing regions. One difference is that the company pays farmers more than the average market price – thereby exceeding labelling organisations’ standards – to ensure a farm’s long-term viability. Unlike other programs, the Rogers Family Co. (RFC) ensures that all Community Aid funds go only to farmers, workers and their families for social or environmental projects.

Launched in the 1980s after green coffee buyer Pete Rogers vowed to tackle the “appalling poverty” he witnessed in Guatemala on his first trip to source, Community Aid has grown dramatically along with the RFC. From its initial project that involved providing pencils and paper to a struggling school in Guatemala, Community Aid today turns Fairly Traded coffee into houses, schools, medical clinics as well as nutritional and educational programs for workers and their families - while preserving or restoring native habitat, rainforest, plants and animals in 10 countries. In 2010, the RFC plans to add 16 farms to Community Aid.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Rogers Family Co. – through Community Aid – is making a difference in Mexico, Rwanda, Panama, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Colombia, Nicaragua, Sumatra, Honduras and Papua New Guinea.

Rogers Estate Coffees use high quality Arabica coffee beans grown in concert with nature. These shade-grown coffee trees - planted above 3,000 feet elevation in the forest – thrive along with the native flora, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. This approach does not destroy the forest to create “mono-culture” plantations. Although the yield is lower, the quality of coffee is higher. In addition to employing its own agronomists, the company is one of the few – if not the only one – to own coffee farms.

*Please note free delivery is to one UK address

Contact Details: Peter Warden, Rogers Estate Coffees (UK) Ltd., Venture House, Arlington Square, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1WA. Tel: ++ 44 (0) 1344 742 821. Email: enquiries@rogersestatecoffees.co.uk

How? By reaching for and drinking a cup of “Fairly Traded” gourmet coffee from Rogers Estate Coffees, which is now offering free shipping and a complimentary bag for a minimum five-bag order of its wholesale coffee. The ‘5 for 4′ promotion is tailored for hotels, businesses, restaurants and cafés.  The company guarantees delivery within 24 hours* anywhere in the UK of its shade-grown, wholesale coffee from the highest-quality Arabica beans grown in concert with nature.

Every purchase of Fairly Traded coffee from Rogers Estate Coffees – the UK subsidiary of the Rogers Family Company – supports its groundbreaking “Coffee Community Aid” program.  Community Aid continuously raises the quality of life for coffee farmers and workers while restoring the environment in coffee growing communities from Mexico to Rwanda.

“Our ‘5 for 4’ promotion is tailored for a wide range of business owners and managers – such as hoteliers, restaurateurs, office managers or caterers – who need wholesale gourmet coffee at a great price,” said Rogers Estate Coffees Vice President Jim Rogers.  “With their purchase, they and their customers or employees also help people and protect nature in communities throughout the world.”

The Fairly Traded and Community Aid programs are unique in their approach to tackling the ongoing socio-economic and environmental challenges in coffee growing regions.  The company pays farmers much more than the average market price – thereby exceeding labeling organizations’ standards – to ensure a farm’s long-term viability.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Rogers Family Co. ensures that all Community Aid funds go only to farmers, workers and their families for social or environmental projects.  Last year, the company spent more than $1 million for such projects as new homes, schools and medical clinics and rainforest and species preservation.

* to business addresses on orders placed before 2pm

Peter Warden
Rogers Estate Coffees (UK) Ltd.,
Venture House,
Arlington Square,
Bracknell,
Berkshire,
RG12 1WA.
Tel: ++ 44 (0) 1344 742 821
Email: enquiries@rogersestatecoffees.co.uk

BRACKNELL, ENGLAND (October 29, 2009) - Rogers Estate Coffees today launched a special 10 percent discount program until Nov. 9 on its “Fairly Traded” gourmet coffees whose purchase helps to permanently raise the quality of life for thousands of workers and save farms as well as nature in coffee growing communities from Mexico to Rwanda.

Customers can receive the discount when they buy online by entering the code SAVETEN at the checkout.

Every purchase of Fairly Traded coffee from Rogers Estate Coffees - the UK subsidiary of the Rogers Family Company – supports the groundbreaking “Coffee Community Aid” program.

Unique in their scope and approach to addressing social and environmental issues inherent in coffee growing regions, the Community Aid and the Fairly Traded program establish five to seven year “social contracts.” The company pays farmers more than the average market price required by labeling organizations to ensure a farm’s long-term viability. Company officials – including  green coffee buyer Pete Rogers who spends three to four months each year at coffee farms – ensure that all funds go directly to farmers, workers and their families for ‘social and environmental’ projects. These projects permanently raise the quality of life for thousands of workers, sustain farms and protect the native flora and fauna in 10 countries. Rainforest preservation is a top priority.

“We are committed to tackling the very real problems – including poverty and lack of education – in the world’s coffee growing regions,” said Rogers Estate Coffees Vice President Jim Rogers. “We greatly appreciate the support of our customers who are helping to make a tangible difference for entire communities thousands of miles away.”

In the last year alone, the company invested approximately $1 million into coffee communities via its Community Aid program. The Rogers Family Company launched its Fairly Traded and Community Aid programs and practiced social and environmental responsibility on its own accord long before the latter became corporate marketing tools.

Launched in the 1980s after green coffee buyer Pete Rogers vowed to tackle the “appalling poverty” he witnessed in Guatemala on his first trip to source, Community Aid has grown dramatically along with the Rogers Family Company (RFC). From its inaugural project that involved donating pencils and paper to a struggling school in Guatemala, Community Aid turns the company’s “Fairly Traded” coffee into houses, schools and medical clinics for thousands of workers and their families - while preserving native plants and animals and restoring rainforest – on dozens of farms in 10 countries. In 2009-2010, the Rogers Family Company plans to add another 16 farms to the Community Aid program.

Community Aid is now making a difference in Mexico, Rwanda, Panama, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Colombia, Nicaragua, Sumatra, Honduras and Papua New Guinea.

“With our customers and business partners’ support, we will continue to improve the quality of life for everyone who has contact with our products including farmers, workers, our customers, employees and business partners,” said Rogers. “Rogers Estate Coffees is equally devoted to preserving and restoring our priceless natural resources.”

Rogers Estate Coffees uses high quality Arabica beans grown in concert with nature. These shade-grown coffee trees - planted above 3,000 feet elevation in the forest – thrive along with the native flora, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. This approach does not destroy the forest to create “mono-culture” plantations. Although the yield is lower, the quality of coffee is higher. In addition to employing its own agronomists, the company is one of the few – if not the only one – to own coffee farms.

ABOUT ROGERS ESTATE COFFEES:
Rogers Estate Coffees is the UK subsidiary of the Rogers Family Company, one of the largest producers of branded gourmet coffees in the U.S. Headquartered in Lincoln, California near the State Capitol city of Sacramento, the Rogers Family Company supplies its “Responsibly Grown, Fairly Traded” gourmet coffee and tea to discriminating customers worldwide.

Founded in 1979 by Jon B. Rogers and Barbara Rogers, the company is one of the nation’s few remaining family-owned and operated gourmet coffee roasters. The company produces some 3,500 individual whole bean and ground coffee and tea products and roasts approximately 40 million pounds of coffee each year. All four of Jon B. Rogers and Barbara Rogers’ adult children – Jim Rogers, Lisa Smoot, John W. Rogers and Pete Rogers along with his wife Kirsten Rogers – play an active role in the company’s operations.

For more information on Rogers Estate Coffees, products or services, please contact Peter Warden, Rogers Estate Coffees (UK) Ltd., Venture House, Arlington Square, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1WA. Tel: ++ 44 (0) 1344 742 821. Email: enquiries@rogersestatecoffees.co.uk

Fact 2: The longer you roast coffee beans, the darker the colour and the higher the “shrinkage”, e.g…, the more coffee it takes to make a pound.

Fact 3: Our normal shrink is 20%; our dark roast shrinkage goes as high as 25%. Lightly roasted coffees can have shrinkage factors as low as 11%.

Fact 4: Most coffee is under-roasted as a cost cutting measure since true gourmet coffee sales have proven the consumer’s preference for “fully roasted” coffee.

Fact 5: There is an “Optimum degree of roast”, that brings out the maximum flavour characteristics for each coffee. This gives the consumer maximum aroma and a rich, full bodied taste.

Fact 6: Under-roasted coffee has a flat, green, grassy astringent flavour. Over-roasted tastes burned or “caramelized”, and the varietal flavours of the coffee are lost in the dominant taste of the roast.