Did you know that coffee is the #1 traded commodity in the entire world? #1! Billions of people all over the world seem to agree that coffee is a delicious way to start the day. Of if you are like my old boss, the way to keep the day rolling along, cup after cup! My husband thinks that coffee tastes like wet acidic dirt. I’m afraid you have the minority opinion on that one, my dear!

Grounds for Change One of the items on my holiday wish list is coffee, in particular, fair trade coffee. What is fair trade coffee? It is coffee that is grown in a way that provides a living wage for the farmers growing and cultivating the beans. I know that I’m grateful that my husband earns a living wage for his work. Why shouldn’t anyone who is doing an honest day’s work be able to earn enough to keep food on the table, a roof over their heads and plan a bit for the future? I want the people who help bring me my morning cup of joy to be fairly compensated for their efforts! I value them in my heart; I should value them with my dollars.
Grounds for Change is an awesome coffee company that offers exactly what I’m looking for when searching for organically grown fair trade coffee, or when I’m looking for coffee gifts. For example, while out of my price range, the coffee of the month club looks like an amazing gift for any coffee fan! You basically get to travel around the world, getting a new flavor from a new spot on the globe every month. How fun!

Grounds for Change has one particular line that really struck me: Cafe Feminino. From their site:
“There are currently well over 1000 women coffee farmers involved with the Cafe Femenino Coffee Project in Peru. The women farmers participate in all farm activities: preparing the terrain, nurseries, and the compost to fertilize the soil; preparing bio-fertilizers; as well as harvesting, de-pulping, fermenting, and drying the coffee. It is very rare for women to participate in selling coffee or in deciding how the money from coffee sales will be used – all of which they do with Cafe Femenino.

Once the coffee leaves the co-op, all sales contracts for Cafe Femenino must be signed and committed to by a woman, and a woman must participate in the sales and marketing of this coffee. An extra two cents per pound above the Fair Trade price for green coffee is paid by the US importer of Cafe Femenino, and these funds provide income that goes directly to the women producers – the use of this money is for them alone to decide.

Grounds for Change donates an additional 10 cents for each pound of Cafe Femenino sold directly back to this women’s coffee growing project to fund annual grants requested by the members. This year, we funded a dental health grant for several rural communities in Northern Peru that aims to improve dental education and provide toothbrushes for local children.“

I’m delighted to have the opportunity to support the economic enterprises of women who are working hard to be seen on a more equal playing field. I know it is a long and arduous road, but with supporters backing them, they will find success, and that will absolutely transform their lives. I find that prospect so appealing, which is what makes Grounds for Change seem like a more logical place for me to shop for coffee than my local Food Lion.

As for the flavor? Awesome! I found my coffee to be fresh and true to taste. This morning I’m enjoying the bold flavors of the Agate Pass Blend. It’s waking me up, for sure!

Buy it!: Grounds for Change coffees start around $9.75 for a 12 ounce bag. Right now they are offering a flat $5.95 shipping rate, so you could stock up on several flavors and tuck them away in your freezer to keep them fresh. Check out their Holiday Blend, which has mocha and dark cherries!

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