Our fair trade logo means that our dealings with coffee producers are transparent, truthful, easy and documented.  The FAIRTRADEPROOF.org site also posts all contracts for the coffee we buy.  We can trace all coffee shipments and lots of coffee from the producer coops through to the point of retail.

This is in contrast with other Fair Trade organizations whose dealings are so convoluted  no one can follow them.  We still offer our coop coffee farmers prices above fair trade standards.

There’s fair trade and then there is FAIR TRADE.

In spite of research conducted in the past 20 years showing that consuming coffee in moderation provides many health benefits, many people still avoid caffeine.  Moderation is the key!  Research done by the Harvard Medical School shows  that drinking several cups of coffee per day may reduce the risk of gallstones, protect against colon cancer, and improve cognitive function.  However, caffeine may be a mild addictive stimulant and may cause increased heart rate for some people.  For sure, caffeine is not for everyone but in general it does more good than harm!

In the past we have been warned against drinking coffee because of the risk of heart disease and cancer.  Those studies did not take into account that people who are sedentary, smoke heavily and abuse alcohol also happened to be coffee drinkers.  Once these variables were controlled researchers around the world have found that coffee has a high content of antioxidants that actually protect against cancer.

Newer studies show that coffee may also have benefits, such as protecting against Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes and liver cancer.

Coffee, the much maligned but undoubtedly beloved beverage,  made headlines for possibly cutting the risk of the latest disease epidemic, type 2 diabetes. And the real news seems to be that the more you drink, the better.

Reducing Disease Risk

After analyzing data on 126,000 people for as long as 18 years, Harvard researchers calculate that compared with not partaking in America’s favorite morning drink, downing one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. But having six cups or more each day slashed men’s risk by 54% and women’s by 30% over java avoiders.

By Sid Kirchheimer
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD

Vanderbilt University, which is recognized worldwide as a center of academic excellence, undertakes through the ICS, scientific investigations to identify both the potential health benefits and therapeutic uses of coffee as well as elucidate some of the fundamental mechanisms involved.

Coffee contains hundreds of compounds that may help with research into some of the most prevalent diseases of our time and one of the most exciting discoveries is the significant presence of antioxidants* within coffee beans.

Vanderbilt University

ABC NEWS!

“Antioxidants are your army to protect you from the toxic free radicals, which come from breathing oxygen and eating sugar, that start chronic diseases.”

Dr. Joe Vinson
Chemestry professor, University of Scranton

MAYO CLINIC

Regarding other health effects of coffee, some evidence suggests that drinking coffee may protect against type 2 diabetes and colon cancer.

January 2011 – Chiapas

San Cristobal de las Casas Church

Cloudforest Initiatives will be sponsoring, in January and February of 2011, two educational/experiential travel programs to the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca in southeastern Mexico.  Chiapas and Oaxaca encompass the two most indigenous, poorest and most agrarian states in Mexico yet they are the richest in ethnic and biological diversity. In addition, these two states now produce the most coffee in Mexico with production coming largely from small family producers. Furthermore, the two states in recent years have been the scene of large, organized social movements lead by indigenous communities demanding an end to free trade policies that divide families, splinter communities and devastate the environment, while struggling for greater autonomy, democracy and full recognition and participation in regional and national life.

1) Travel Program to Chiapas, Mexico

Dates: January 15-24, 2011

Theme: Going to the Source: the Struggle for Food Security and Social Change by

degraining corn

the autonomous Maya communities (Zapatistas) of Chiapas, Mexico

Cost: $1150.00 This fee includes airport pick-up at Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, on the afternoon/evening of the 15th and air departure on the 25th, all double occupancy lodging in tourist appropriate hotels or guest houses with two main meals per day, all program transportation, interpretation of speakers and presentations, honorarium for speakers, and all entrance fees for museums, archaeological sites and park reserves. Travel program participants are responsible for their own transportation expenses to and from Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, and for personal expenses and purchases during the course of the program.

Join us for an exciting and enriching travel program to hear the words and experience the sights, tastes and smells of the movement for social change led by the autonomous Maya communities in Chiapas, Mexico. This travel program will focus on native plants and seeds, markets, food preparation and recipes from the region, and the struggle for land and food sovereignty by the people who have given the world such foods as corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers, squash, peanuts, avocados, cocoa and vanilla.  In addition, this program will have a broad array of presentations, visits and experiences that include the following:

• program schedule, orientation, frequent group reflections and final debriefing/evaluation

• visiting Mayas in their homes and communities for presentations about food sovereignty

• visit organized groups of artisans, weavers and open markets

• cooks/kitchen visits for food processing techniques and food preparation demonstrations

• listen to Maya presentations on community organization and their struggle for a  more peaceful, just and better world

• visit autonomous Maya schools, health clinics and development projects

• visit with human rights workers, woman’s groups and nonprofits

• visit with small coffee producers and co-ops that export fair trade/organic coffee

• visit an important ancient Maya archeological site

• presentations from academicians and religious leaders about regional challenges and conflict

• visit a cloudforest reserve and witness the diversity of flora and fauna.

More information shortly

Cloudforest Initiatives is developing an educational travel program…

For the United Theological Seminary of New Brighton, Minnesota.  Twenty five Master of Divinity students, professor Cris Smith and Cloudforest board member, writer and educator, Teresa Ortiz,  will come to Chiapas, Mexico, for 10 days in June, 2010 and will participate in a variety of formal presentations, indigenous community visits, and nonprofit briefings to see and hear directly the conditions and conflicts that exist in this beautiful yet contentious place on the planet.

We will be scheduling other educational travel programs for the winter of 2011. We invite you to contact us if you might be interested
in participating in one of our programs or want to work with us to design a special program for your group or organization.

Fair Trade for a better world……..
Cloudforest Initiatives
P.O.Box 16177
Saint Paul, MN 55116
651-592-4143
www.cloudforestmexico.org

Church in San Cristobal de Las Casas

Balcony in house in San Cristobal de Las Casas

San Cristobal de Las Casas Square

Ceremony in Acteal, Chiapas