Top 5 ways to empower the grower

If you are a discerning coffee enthusiast, you are aware of the importance of farmers and growers in the industry. Farmers are the lifeblood of the industry, and large coffee companies often don’t do enough to support them. That is why Pure Origin stands apart from the rest: we pay a premium price for every bean and help farmers with region-specific problems as they arise. We realize that our company is only as strong as the farmers that help make us who we are. With that considered, we have compiled a list of the top 5 ways to empower the grower.

Top 5 ways to empower the grower

While there are a million small ways you can help empower growers, we’ve narrowed down the most influential ones. In particular, we recommend buying only sustainable-impact coffee, helping fund workshops for farmers, doing your research into companies, ordering your coffee online, and holding companies accountable for their business practices, both at home and abroad. Read on to discover what each of these means and how you can help growers today!

Buy only sustainable-impact coffee

Sustainable-impact coffee is coffee that is created with respect for the farmer and for the environment. It applies to companies that compensate farmers fairly and make sure they engage in ecologically safe agriculture. While larger corporations pay market price for beans, sustainable-impact coffee brands go above and beyond. This is because when farmers are happy and stable, they thrive, and so do the brands that make them.

That is why it is important to purchase only coffee that has a sustainable impact. Of course, no one will blame you for a name-brand coffee here and there. However, in this day and age, your purchases speak and make a difference in the world. That is why Pure Origin recommends you make the switch to sustainable-impact coffee in the home. That way, you can be sure that farmers are fairly compensated, and that your coffee didn’t come at their expense.

Help fund workshops

In many impoverished regions of the world, coffee farmers don’t farm sustainably because they either don’t have the training or the funds to do so. They are not intentionally looking to hurt the environment, but when farmers operate on a razor-thin budget, things can fall through the cracks. Similarly, people in many remote regions may never have learned about environmental responsibility, and cannot be blamed for poor farming practices.

Because of this, it is key to help fund workshops across the world. Pure Origin is proud to support several causes that empower growers in this way. In Indonesia, our partner Coop Reje Gayo provides education and training on proper cultivation techniques. In Peru, we work with Todos Al Agua, a group that helps combat contaminated water, particularly through workshops and seminars. Our partner in Columbia, the Las Rosas Women’s Group, helps 300 women farmers attend workshops to better themselves and their crops. In all of these regions, the farms have made noticeable strides environmentally. The farmers are more empowered and can start to turn back the tide on global warming.

Do your research

The best tool you can use to empower farmers is your computer. It is much easier to do your research online and not in the coffee aisle of the supermarket. If you really want to help make a difference with your coffee purchases, take your time to make sure your chosen company is sustainable. Every reputable coffee company that gives back to farmers should have an extensive web presence. With a bit of research, you can weed out the companies that only pay lip service to boost sales and differentiate them from those that truly care about farmers.

In particular, keep an eye out for how companies source their coffee. All of Pure Origin’s coffee is single origin, meaning it comes from one region. That way, you can trace your coffee back to the individual farm where it was grown. With this information, you can research conditions, contact the farm itself, or enquire with the coffee company to make sure everything is above-board and ethical.

Additionally, make sure that the company isn’t just doing the bare minimum to boost sales. The ideal coffee company should seem eager to make a difference beyond what is strictly necessary. For example, a portion of every sale of Pure Origin coffee helps farmers across the world! In Kenya, we work with Grounds for Health, which aims to reduce incidences of cervical cancer in remote regions of the coffee-producing country. In the Congo, we work with Mighty Peace Coffee, helping to end the mineral conflict and the brutality it brings. With a bit of research, you can make a huge difference for growers across the world!

Order online

Many smaller sustainable companies may not have a huge presence on grocery store shelves. The supermarket is dominated by big brands that often compensate growers minimally. Even the sustainable brands that do make it onto the shelf can see their profits slashed by the competition. Without a middleman, the online shopper has all the power and coffee companies and growers benefit proportionally!

Once you’ve determined that a coffee company is optimally sustainable, you can empower the grower by ordering online. That way, you know that a portion of your money goes directly to the grower. For smaller companies and growers, every sale and every dollar makes a difference. Because of this, online shopping is the way to go if you want to make a difference with your coffee purchases!

Hold companies accountable

Lastly, just because a company is sustainable doesn’t mean that they don’t have room to improve! If you have comments for us or suggestions for causes you’d like us to consider supporting, reach out to Pure Origin today! For us, sustainability is a priority that we take very seriously. We seek to empower the grower with every sale, and if you are as passionate as we are, we urge you to do your research too.

We hope this guide has helped you to become a more informed consumer. Try a cup of Pure Origin coffee and help us make a difference for growers across the world today!

Thank you for empowering growers at origin! With every story read, cup poured, and coffee sipped – you’re connecting with the world. 
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