Friday's A+ Award of the Day

Today’s A+ Award of the Day goes to the Thanksgiving Coffee Company, based in Ft. Bragg, California.

You may remember that on October 2, I wrote a post about The Mirembe Kawomera Cooperative. After doing so, Paul Katzeff, from the Thanksgiving Coffee Company wrote a comment on the blog. Here’s what Mr. Katzeff said:

“JJ is a great visionary but he needs our help to make his dream, (which is now his entire communities dream) come true. This is an economic development project in collaboration with my company, Thanksgiving Coffee Company. The Mirembe Kawomera Cooperative members grow the coffee. We here in Ft Bragg, California, have to sell it. Last year we purchased all their coffee (112,000 pounds) but sold only 25,000 pounds under the Mirembe Kawomera label. The remainder we blended into many of our other organic and Fair Trade blends.

“Help us sell all 112,000 pounds under their label because they receive a $1.00 rebate from each roasted package we sell under their name. Last year they received an extra $25,000 bonus and the coop used that money to purchase some land and to build a coffee warehouse to strengthen their cooperative going forward.

“The story is a work in progress. When you think about coffee, let us be the place you support with a purchase of a truly flavorful coffee that really is as good as the story behind it.”

Thank you Mr. Katzeff for commenting! And, more importantly, thank you for telling us more of the story-behind-the story about JJ’s work and how your company is supporting his efforts. (Readers, when you go to their site, be sure to read the history of how and why the company started.)

You have gone the extra, extra, extra mile in supporting JJ and his community. For that, I want to give you today’s A+ Award! You deserve it!

Now, it is our turn to go that extra mile with you. As you purchase coffee for the holiday season (or any time), why not think of the Thanksgiving Coffee Company! Show them a little love and support, so that they can continue to help JJ and his dream.

Thursday's A+ Award of the Day

Today’s A+ Award goes to a Ugandan coffee farmer. Here’s his story.

J.J. Keki is the founder and director of Peace Kawomera. Mr. Keki wanted to unite the Christians, Jews, and Muslims in his community. His plan? He decided to form a co-op to sell the coffee they raised and to demonstrate peace to the world.

His neighbors were excited and pleased with his plan. So, they named the company Mirembe Peace Kawomera. Mirembe means peace and Kawomera means that their coffee is quality coffee.

That’s the story behind Mirembe Kawomera Coffee. It all started with J.J. Keki’s dream. J.J. Keki hit the streets, asking Muslim, Christian, and Jewish neighbors to put aside their idealogical differences and create a great coffee with an even better cause.

At this point, Peace Kawomera Cooperative has over 750 members. Because of their collective power, they now sell directly to Thanksgiving Coffee Company and receive four times what they previously made. J.J.’s work has started a chain reaction in the community, as farmers are able to send their children to school, save money, and reinvest.

It’s positive news indeed that something as simple as a cup of coffee can break down religious barriers and help a Ugandan community thrive.

So. Mr. J.J. Keki. You receive today’s A+ Award! Way to go J.J. Way to go!