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Flossie
Mae’s 50/50 blends
two fair-trade, shade-grown, organic coffees from Central
America. Countries in Central America
are among the poorest in the hemisphere and the national economy is
uniquely
dependent on coffee. When world coffee prices began a period of steep
decline,
indices of poverty, hunger, and illness soared. In countries that have
seen the
gruesome effects of the coffee crisis, small scale growers have banned
together
in search of an alternative solution to improving coffee quality and
sustainable
development. Hundreds of women participate in savings and loan
programs
for investment in activities that provide income diversification and
food
security. Training includes organic and shade cultivation, terracing,
soil
conservation and crop diversification. Additionally, over 200 secondary
and
university scholarships for cooperative members and their children have
been
funded through these efforts.
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