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Alpine Market employee Brandt Wehde holds out fair trade coffee beans Friday afternoon in the Frisco health food store. Today is World Fair Trade Day.
SUMMIT COUNTY — Mel Evans-Glenn hopes the hoards who are likely to hit the streets today for the county’s annual cleanup event will bring their Big Gulp coffee mugs with them to one of three businesses that will offer free fair trade coffee.
Evans-Glenn, owner of Breckenridge Coffee Roasters (also known as Conscious Coffees), provided the beans for the free coffee in an attempt to highlight World Fair Trade Day today.
Fair trade means there is an equitable partnership between North American businesses like Breckenridge Coffee Roasters and the producers in Asia, Africa, Latin America and other parts of the world. A fair trade partnership works to provide low-income artisans and farmers with a living wage for their work.
Pika Bagel Bakery & Cafe, Alpine Natural Foods and Petal & Bean will be pouring the free joe. The businesses are only a few for which Evans-Glenn and her husband and business partner, Mark Glenn, roast and sell fair trade beans.
Evans-Glenn said she hoped her attempt to mark World Fair Trade Day might increase locals’ consciousness about fair trade.
Evans-Glenn and Glenn made a commitment to fair trade after a visit to South America, where they met farmers that produce coffee beans.
“Our first trip down to visit our farmers was just like something exploded inside of us,” she said.
“We said, hang on a minute, the people are so impoverished. It really came to light after that first trip that there was a need for a new model for business that allowed these farmers and us to make a living wage, but relative to where we are all living.”
The company is now 100 percent fair trade. Its products are also organic.
Breckenridge Coffee Roasters’ products are sold to several dozen outlets on the Front Range, where Evans-Glenn will offer coffee specials, tastings and informational programs today for World Fair Trade Day.
“It’s truly why we do what we do,” she said of the fair trade business practice. “Our goal is to deepen understanding all around the state.”
Kim Marquis can be contacted at (970) 668-3998, ext. 249, or at kmarquis@summitdaily.com.
Evans-Glenn, owner of Breckenridge Coffee Roasters (also known as Conscious Coffees), provided the beans for the free coffee in an attempt to highlight World Fair Trade Day today.
Fair trade means there is an equitable partnership between North American businesses like Breckenridge Coffee Roasters and the producers in Asia, Africa, Latin America and other parts of the world. A fair trade partnership works to provide low-income artisans and farmers with a living wage for their work.
Pika Bagel Bakery & Cafe, Alpine Natural Foods and Petal & Bean will be pouring the free joe. The businesses are only a few for which Evans-Glenn and her husband and business partner, Mark Glenn, roast and sell fair trade beans.
Evans-Glenn said she hoped her attempt to mark World Fair Trade Day might increase locals’ consciousness about fair trade.
Evans-Glenn and Glenn made a commitment to fair trade after a visit to South America, where they met farmers that produce coffee beans.
“Our first trip down to visit our farmers was just like something exploded inside of us,” she said.
“We said, hang on a minute, the people are so impoverished. It really came to light after that first trip that there was a need for a new model for business that allowed these farmers and us to make a living wage, but relative to where we are all living.”
The company is now 100 percent fair trade. Its products are also organic.
Breckenridge Coffee Roasters’ products are sold to several dozen outlets on the Front Range, where Evans-Glenn will offer coffee specials, tastings and informational programs today for World Fair Trade Day.
“It’s truly why we do what we do,” she said of the fair trade business practice. “Our goal is to deepen understanding all around the state.”
Kim Marquis can be contacted at (970) 668-3998, ext. 249, or at kmarquis@summitdaily.com.
