13 April, 2004 – Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee comes to the UN

The Rainforest Alliance held a press conference and tasting at the United Nations Secretariat on 13 April 2004 , to mark the introduction of Rainforest Alliance Certified (RAC) coffee. The coffee, made from socially conscious and environmentally friendly beans, is now available throughout the Secretariat. Members of the Rainforest Alliance , Java City coffee, the UNEP and The Equator Initiative spoke about the importance of sustainable coffee and its impact on both coffee consumers and coffee producers.

The press conference began with remarks by Tensie Whelan, Executive Director of the Rainforest Alliance. Ms. Whelan stressed the significance of coffee as the world’s second most traded commodity, providing work for over 25 million people. Unfortunately the overproduction of coffee has led to an economic crisis that fosters poor working conditions and encourages the use of biologically devastating chemicals in bean production. The Rainforest Alliance provides a solution to this issue with RAC coffee, which works with farmers to establish a set of criteria that govern the sustainable growth and harvesting of beans. Ms. Whelan went on to illustrate how the certification program promotes the UN Millennium Goals of poverty eradication and economic stability in developing countries.

For a copy of the Rainforest Alliance Press Release please click here

Sean Southey, Manager of the Equator Initiative, spoke after Ms. Whelan about the necessity of a partnership between the business community and the sustainable development community. Mr. Southey stressed the symbolic significance of serving RAC coffee at the UN, noting that it will give people a chance to “walk the talk” of sustainable development.

For a copy of Sean Southey’s speech please click here

Mr. Southey was followed by Chuck Van Vleet, VP of Java City, the coffee buyer that markets and sells RAC and other specialty coffees. Mr. Van Vleet discussed how eco-friendly coffee is easily marketed to college students and socially concerned corporations. The stringent criteria that the Rainforest Alliance apply to their farmers ensures that the resulting product will not only be good for the environment, but it shall also be of surpassing quality and taste.

For more information on Java City , please visit their website www.javacity.com

The press conference concluded with remarks from Gordon Tapper and UNEP Executive Director Adnan Amin. Both men gave personal accounts of the impact that chemical herbicides and pesticides can have on a coffee farming community.