The BASR Approach to Ethical Coffee Sourcing:

There is much discussion these days regarding ethical sourcing of commodity foods, such as coffee and cocoa beans; more specifically, there is a growing concern over the use of forced child labor and other forms of slave labor for harvesting and processing of these products.

Blossom and Son Roasters is greatly concerned about slavery, and the ethical treatment of laborers at the coffee farms that we are associated with.  We have made every effort to purchase our coffee from growers and importers that have great care and concern for the coffee worker, and tirelessly work to better the quality of life for those living in all coffee communities.

Our importers have personal relationships with the growers, and cooperatively work together to ensure a life of dignity for the families, and improve the working and living conditions for a more sustainable coffee environment.

The Specialty Coffee Industry is well suited for this type of business conduct, as the coffees we purchase are of a much higher quality, come from very small lots (quantities) and command the time investment, care and skill of a well-paid coffee worker.  The price we pay is much higher than the commodity coffee companies pay, but we sleep better knowing that the farmers and their families are not being abused by a low profit margin system.

For additional Information on the practical application of this, consider the following links provided by our importers:

Fair Trade USA  – Fair Trade USA enables sustainable development and community empowerment by cultivating a more equitable global trade model that benefits farmers, workers, consumers, industry and the earth.

Coffee Kids – APPROACH: Coffee Kids provides training, mentoring, and financial support to young coffee farmers so that they can implement creative solutions to the challenges they face in the changing coffee industry. Climate change, generational shifts, migration, land pressures, inadequate access to financial services, and fluctuating coffee markets are barriers to young farmers’ success. We work in collaboration with all sectors of the supply chain to foster their entrepreneurial spirit in overcoming these barriers.

International Women’s Coffee Alliance – MISSION: To empower women in the international coffee community to achieve meaningful and sustainable lives; and to encourage and recognize the participation of women in all aspects of the coffee industry.

Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung – Our Approach: Support smallholder farmers on their path to becoming economically self-sufficient and enabling them to become strong and competitive business people in coffee and cocoa by strengthening their entrepreneurial skills and organizations.

Growers First – Mission:  We administrate strategies that meet the economic, agricultural, educational, health, and faith needs of poor farming communities, resulting in long-term sustainable transformation.

Grounds For Health – Identity:  We are a mission-driven, international non-profit organization, born out of and with enduring ties to the coffee industry and focused on increasing coverage of cervical cancer prevention services..