Late shipment highlights risk of Direct Trade vs. Fair Trade coffee

Thirsty organic coffee drinkers only have to wait a few more days for their fix, now that a shipment of Latin Organics coffee is finally on route to Vancouver from Colombia, says Latin Organics founder and CEO Martha Bowen. The growers missed the vessel twice; then the coffee was delayed even longer when an earthquake shook Peru, leaving Latin Organics with no inventory to replenish coffee orders in Metro Vancouver.

Store shelves from Whole Foods in West Vancouver to Bosa Foods in Vancouver have been bare of Latin Organics coffee since August when the fledgling company sold out of its inventory.

The late shipment highlights the risk of trading directly with farmers at origin, rather then dealing through a more convenient and much practiced way of trading through coffee brokers.

"I could have simply contacted Fair Trade coffee brokers and bought beans through them to fill my orders," says Bowen. "But that would have gone against what Latin Organics stands for, which is a responsibility to the Colombian coffee growers, their families and to our mission of making a real tangible difference on behalf of our local customers."

Instead Bowen continued to work directly with the Colombian growers to ensure the beans made it onto the boat, meanwhile assuring retailers and organic coffee lovers in Metro Vancouver that the new harvest was on its way. Then an earthquake in Peru set back the shipment even further.

The beans are expected to arrive October 9th and will be roasted, packaged, delivered and on store shelves by the end of the month.

"The payoff is a unique and delicious coffee that takes Fair Trade to another level," says Bowen. "Because of our direct, open relationship with indigenous coffee growers, we can ensure that they're not at risk of losing their livelihood."

Bowen, a Colombian immigrant, has deep family roots in the community where Latin Organics' coffee is grown. Her grandfather used to trade with the same indigenous people, the Arhuaco Indians in Northern Colombia.

The quality of the coffee and the passion of Latin Organics to make a difference are evident by the speed with which the company is growing. In a market dominated by big name brands, Latin Organics has carved a niche because of its tasty coffee and policy of direct open trade. They've just signed a deal to have their coffee distributed by a mayor retailer in Canada.

Even Mary and Jimmy Pattison are Latin Organics coffee lovers. During the last Christmas holiday season, Bowen sent the Pattisons a package of her coffee. Mary Pattison replied saying it was excellent. Now, Latin Organics coffee is sold at the Pattison Group's Urban Fare in Yaletown and will be included in Urban Fares' new store on Bute.