Official flag of the Oromia Region

Map of Ethiopia with the Oromia Region highlighted in red

Ethiopian coffee is often overlooked but has great characteristics. Known for its sweet blueberry notes at a medium roast but taking on a spicy boldness and body at darker roasts, it delivers a quality taste that one would expect from the birthplace of coffee.

You may not be aware that Ethiopia’s Oromia Coffee Farmers Co-operative Union harvests the best quality Fair Trade and organic certified, producing both world-class coffee and dramatic social change. The Oromia co-operative is celebrated around the globe as a model of successful, sustainable coffee farming. It was recently featured in the highly acclaimed 2006 documentary Black Gold, the story of Tadesse Meskela, manager of the Oromia co-operative, and his mission to save 74,000 struggling coffee farmers from bankruptcy. For more information about this, please visit www.blackgoldmovie.com.

Revenues generated by the Oromia co-operative are used to ensure food security for its members as well as to purchase and repair processing equipment. Oromia members are dedicated to promoting environmental stewardship and social justice in their communities. Women hold prominent positions throughout the organization, and all of Oromia’s award-winning coffee is produced according to the principles of organic farming.

Image credit (map & flag): Wikipedia

 
The rugged landscape of Reunion Island, a tiny dot in the Indian Ocean.

Coffee Spotlight: Reunion Island Coffee

When it comes to coffee, Reunion Island, a wholesale coffee and tea supplier based in Oakville, Ontario, has been making a name for itself through consistently top reviews by coffee lovers from professional tasters to bloggers. Reunion Island blends and roasts gourmet Arabica beans handpicked and imported from over 20 countries in the world's finest growing regions and makes them available in either pods or packages.

One such area is Reunion Island, a tiny dot in the Indian Ocean and a French province between Madagascar and Mauritius. Previously named Bourbon Island, Reunion Island and coffee cultivation date back to 1713, when mocha coffee plants were introduced. Reunion Island coffee is rumored to have caught the praise of King Louis XV of France as well as French author Balzac.

Reunion Island Coffee is a household name for organic fair trade in Canada and it's being increasingly discovered by organic coffee consumers in the United States. It features no fewer than seven Fair Trade Organic selections such as Ethiopia Oromia, a name which has risen to fame thanks to the coffee documentary Black Gold.

Making a name in the world of pod coffee is also on the list of Reunion Island`s achievements through an unrelenting focus on quality in R&D as well as taste testing. Reunion`s pod coffee selections mirror those in the Private Reserve OCS program with over 23 varieties of gourmet coffee.

Flavored coffees can promise more than they deliver, but Reunion Island carries a wide selection of delicious single flavored and blended flavored coffee many of which are introduced as seasonal offerings available for a limited time. The feature coffee program ensures variety and selections which are suited for holidays and special occasions.

Reunion Island also boasts a selection of Rainforest Alliance Certified products -- notably, coffee that meets organization's holistic standards encompassing ecosystem conservation, wildlife protection and dignified working conditions which facilitate market access to farm owners and ensure optimal pricing.

Founded in 1996, Reunion Island participates in direct trade relationships and partnerships with Rainforest Alliance and co-op organizations as well as in fundraising for coffee causes such as supporting healthcare in developing countries.

Reunion Island’s sustainability initiatives include instituting a recycling program at its roasting facility, printing marketing materials on recycled paper and purchasing carbon offsets for all deliveries in the Greater Toronto Area. It has increased purchases of organic and Rainforest Alliance coffees, introduced an organic tea line and created an environmental incentive program for employees and customers.

Celebrity coffee cupper Kenneth Davids has rated Colombia Las Hermosas coffee “outstanding” and described it as “sweet, delicate, floral-toned aroma with hints of lemon and a buttery chocolate. Reveals weight and power in the cup, with a rich acidity with continued floral, lemon and butter notes. Clean, rich finish.”

If coffee were mapped to the wine industry, Peter Pesce, president of Oakville-based Reunion Island Coffee, would be the equivalent of a sommelier plus vintner. As one of Canada`s first importers of specialty coffees, he has shaped the industry as well as shed light on little-known topics. His expertise on the topic of coffee has garnered national media attention. In addition to his business operations, he has served as Chairman of the Coffee Association of Canada.

Reunion Island is a supplier of organic fair trade coffee to many of the finest cafés and restaurants throughout major metropolitan areas in Canada and the United States.

We are proud to carry Reunion Island's organic fair trade coffee products. We recommend you try their Colombia Las Hermosas blend which we have available in coffee pods, whole beanor ground coffee.Fathzer / Flickr

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