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Ben & Jerry’s Coffee for a ChangeTM Made with Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee ExtractOctober 28, 2003
New York, NY -- Ben & Jerry’s now offers ice cream made with coffee extract certified by the Rainforest Alliance for meeting strict standards that protect workers and wildlife. This marks the first time that ice cream made with certified coffee is widely available in North America. Coffee For A ChangeTM, Ben & Jerry’s smooth, rich ice cream flavor, is made with coffee extract derived from beans grown and harvested by La Trinidad, a cooperative of small-scale farmers in the foothills of Oaxaca, Mexico. On Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee farms such as La Trinidad, the detrimental impacts of coffee farming are significantly reduced as soils are conserved, rivers and wildlife are protected and workers are paid fairly and treated with respect. “When an influential and widely respected corporate leader such as Ben & Jerry’s makes a socially and environmentally responsible decision to buy certified, it makes people stand up and pay attention to the importance of this unique conservation tool,” says Tensie Whelan, Rainforest Alliance’s Executive Director. “At Ben & Jerry’s, we believe in using the power of our day-to-day business decisions to help drive social change,” said Yola Carlough, Head of Social Mission for the Vermont-based ice cream manufacturer. “One decision we make just about every day is how, and where, to buy the ingredients we use to make our ice cream & frozen yogurt. Like most hardworking farmers in coffee producing countries around the world, our friends at La Trinidad have relied on coffee to build their future, at times earning less that what many Americans spend daily just to enjoy a few cups.”
Continuing its long-time commitment to social and environmental responsibility, Ben & Jerry's and its coffee extract supplier Coffee Enterprises, are working with the Rainforest Alliance to verify that the beans used to make Coffee For A ChangeTM are grown in a sustainable manner. The agreement signals a unique partnership between key companies along the coffee “chain-of-custody,” the path leading from farmer to consumer and including all points in between. Furthermore, Coffee Enterprises has committed to buying close to 100% of Rainforest Alliance Certified coffees for processing its coffee extracts. "Having seen first hand the plight of coffee farmers world wide and having visited La Trinidad Coop many times we feel compelled to help the farmers help themselves. This isn't charity but rather a commitment in assisting neighbors achieve a better standard of living," says Dan Cox, President of Coffee Enterprises. La Trinidad is a one-of-a-kind cooperative; it is the only farmer association that is triple certified and has achieved Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade and organic certifications. La Trinidad’s specialty coffee customers, such as Ben & Jerry’s, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Allegro Coffee Company, have established long-term buying relationships that pay a guaranteed price for the cooperative’s coffee. Coffee Enterprises coordinates with the cooperative to ensure affordable credit, financing arrangements and entrepreneurial endeavors. Having achieved Rainforest Alliance certification, the farmers of La Trinidad are helping to restore and enhance the land and protect ecosystems and wildlife habitat. Today, approximately 1,200 people at La Trinidad directly benefit from the cooperative’s commitment to sustainability and self-sufficiency.
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