PDX Food Press

Portland Coffee Roasters promotes gender equality in the coffee supply chain

Portland Coffee Roasters introduces “Coffee by 32 Women” to promote gender equality in the coffee supply chain.

(PORTLAND, Ore. –– April 23, 2020) –– Portland Coffee Roasters has launched “Coffee by 32 Women,” a limited-edition coffee grown by Sumac Warmi, a group of 32 women growers in the well-established growing region of San Ignacio, Cajamarca, Peru. The new product is available through the end of May.

Sumac Warmi, which means “Beautiful Women” in the ancient Incan Quechua language, is part of the Union y Fe cooperative founded in 2014. Union y Fe continually distinguishes itself as a pioneering organization in Peru, offering top-quality coffees and innovative micro lots. Located in the Andes Mountains, Cajamarca’s high altitude and fertile soil contribute to the coffee’s quality, producing a sought-after, fair trade, organic micro lot.
“We developed ‘Coffee by 32 Women’ specifically to raise awareness about talented and dedicated women professionals in the coffee growing trade,” explained Mark Stell, founder and managing partner of Portland Coffee Roasters. “Purchasing this roast not only supports these growers, but also promotes gender equality in the coffee supply chain.”
Monica Terveer is the Director of Sales for Sustainable Harvest, Portland Coffee Roasters’ importing partner. Sustainable Harvest imports exquisite specialty coffees from around the world, using an innovative sourcing approach to disrupt commodity-driven trade. The company focuses on creating transparent relationships that increase value throughout the supply chain, all while fostering greater sustainability.
According to Terveer, women are the backbone of coffee production in Latin America, and “Coffee by 32 Women” helps them control their own futures. While women generally manage most of the labor of producing coffee, they are not always the legal owners of the land they work on, nor are they direct recipients of the income their families bring in from coffee.
“What makes women’s cooperatives, or women’s groups within cooperatives, so significant is that they put the power, and the money, into the hands of women,” said Terveer. “When women are in control of their own coffee, it can provide a path toward autonomy in their decision making, oftentimes leading to the income from coffee being used in a way that brings greater benefit to their families and their communities.”
“Coffee by 32 Women” is a Certified Fair Trade Organic light roast, medium-bodied coffee with notes of fig and honey. It is available now through May 31, 2020 and can be purchased online at PortlandCoffeeRoasters.com, which is currently offering a buy two, get one free promotion. In the Portland Metropolitan area, it is also available in bulk at New Seasons Markets and in 12-ounce bags at select Fred Meyer stores.
Learn more about “Coffee by 32 Women” and the Sumac Warmi with a video of their life story outlines the womens’ passion for quality and their future dreams at PortlandCoffeeRoasters.com/empower. For more information, visit PortlandCoffeeRoasters.com and engage on social media @PDXCoffeeRoasters.

About Portland Coffee Roasters
Portland Coffee Roasters, formerly Portland Roasting Coffee, is a wholesale and retail coffee company based in Portland, Oregon. Since 1996, Portland Coffee Roasters has sourced, roasted, and distributed high-quality specialty coffees locally and nationally from its location in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District. Its mission is to create positive human connections through coffee by building a socially responsible business. Through direct-source programs and global projects, the company works with farming communities and cooperatives to improve the quality of life for all members of the coffee supply chain.

About Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers
Sustainable Harvest is a specialty coffee importer whose mission is to improve the livelihoods of coffee-farming families around the globe through its Relationship Coffee model. Since its founding in 1997, the company has partnered with over 200,000 smallholder farmers, helping them gain access to premium markets and increased incomes. It became the first B Corp certified company in coffee in 2008.