A Friend’s Philosophy
Our motto, “Coffee Roasted for Friends,” is more than a slogan. It’s really our mission, our reason for being in this business. Coffee is a social stimulus that brings people together to share ideas and stories, and when people come together, a community is formed and friends are made.
We are all connected through the communities we live and work in. We are next door to each other. We are down the road from one another. We volunteer in community organizations and are members of co-ops. We take care of each other’s kids and loan each other tools. We have potlucks and bake sales and take each other to doctor appointments. We vote in our elections. We raise animals and grow food for one another. We build porches, massage sore muscles, and fix each other’s cars.
Here at Vermont Coffee Company® we try hard to be a good friend — locally and globally. We are a small-town roaster using only 100% certified fair trade, certified organic coffees from around the world.
We have adopted the ‘fair trade’ model for our business, specifically for our green coffee purchases. All the coffee we purchase (100%) is certified organic and fair trade. Fair trade is ‘farmer friendly,’ and it holds the promise of a better way of commerce. Traditional commerce – the exchange of things of value – can be exploitive of those who have less. With fair trade, we are part of a new model where commerce is also an exchange of values.
The values we share are enumerated in the principles and practices of the Fair Trade Federation:
Fair Wages
Cooperative Workplaces
Consumer Education
Environmental Sustainability
Financial And Technical Support
Respect For Cultural Identity
Public Accountability
We have adopted these principles and adapted them to our business. Click here to read Our Organic, Fair Trade Policy.
We all live together and work together. We are your neighbors. We are your friends.
