Organic Coffee Collaboration Media Advisory February 2007

WHAT:    
Organic coffee certification will be the focus of a seminar at the National Coffee Association’s 96^th Annual Convention. Featured speakers will be David Dallis, President of Dallis Coffee, one of the nation’s preeminent organic coffee roasters, and David Abney, General Manager of QAI, one of the nation’s leading organic coffee certification organizations.

Data from the Organic Trade Association's 2006 Manufacturer Survey indicate that U.S. organic coffee sales totaled $89 million in 2005, up 40 percent from the previous year. OTA projects organic coffee sales to grow an average of 20 percent annually through 2008. Organic coffee is grown in more than 30 countries, including the United States.

WHERE: 
The Phoenician, Scottsdale, AZ

WHEN:   
The seminar will be held Friday, March 2, 2007, from 2-3:30 p.m. Convention dates are March 1-4, 2007.

BACKGROUND:  

Organic coffee is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, avoid the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic farmers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. Organic coffee is grown in more than 30 countries, including the United States.

Dallis Coffee is a participant in the Organic Coffee Collaboration - a project of the Organic Trade Association, the business association for the North American organic industry.  The Collaboration includes:

Café Bom Dia (Coral Gables, FL) – Family-owned and operated coffee producer based in Brazil providing Marques de Paiva® premium organic coffee and other sustainable coffee products at a fair price through Sam’s Clubs nationwide and select Wal-Mart stores.

Dallis Coffee (New York, NY) – A leading provider of organic and Fair Trade Certified™ coffees, selling to Whole Foods, universities and top cafés and restaurants across the country.

DaSilva Fine Brazilian Coffee® (Greensboro, NC) – Provides organic ultra-premium single-estate coffee directly from Espírito Santo, Brazil, hand-selected and picked only from the most recent crops. 

Elan Organic Coffees (San Diego, CA) - Coffee developer and importer offering certified organic socially responsible coffees it develops through partnerships with village co-ops.

Equal Exchange (West Bridgewater, MA) - Worker-owned, Fair Trade Certified™ cooperative and one of the largest U.S. organic coffee roasters.

F. Gaviña & Sons (Vernon, CA) – A family-owned and operated specialty coffee roaster with over 135 years’ experience as growers, traders and roasters of fine coffees.  The Gaviña family is committed to producing high quality 100% organic coffees for its Gaviña Gourmet Coffee and Don Francisco’s Specialty Coffee brands. 

Fresh Harvest Products, Inc. (New York, NY) - Its Wings of Nature® brand coffees are small-batch roasted to a temperature that peaks the flavor and aroma of each bean, and then custom blended after roasting to provide unique and flavorful varieties. 

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (Waterbury, VT) - One of the leading U.S. organic coffee roasters and number one on Business Ethics magazine’s 2006 list of “100 Best Corporate Citizens.”

S&C Naturals/Rocamojo, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) - Manufacturer of the sole organic coffee/soy blend sold by retailers nationwide and winner of Gourmet Retailer’s “Best Products of Show” award at the 2004 Fancy Food Show.

Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company (Vancouver, BC, Canada) - North America’s leading certified organic coffee decaffeinator, which decaffeinates coffee for three other Organic Coffee Collaboration participants: Café Bom Dia, Elan Organic Coffees, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.