From Our Blog
Siobhan

Update from our grower partners in Haiti

posted at 5:07pm, 14 Jan 10 by Siobhan [ 6 comments ]

As most of you will be aware, Haiti was struck by an earthquake on Tuesday, causing widespread damage and loss of life.

We’ve been in touch with  RECOCARNO, our Haitian coffee partners, and are relieved to report that their farming communities have not been directly affected by this devastating earthquake.

The co-operative, which has been a partner of Cafédirect since 1998, is situated in the north of the country, far enough away from the epicentre of the earthquake to have avoided the worst devastation.

However, as it is the middle of the coffee harvesting season, and there is extensive damage to Port-au-Prince and transport infrastructure, there will be challenges ahead for RECOCARNO in getting their coffee to market.  We will be working with them to see how we can provide support and will continue to keep you updated when we hear more.

Comments

  1. Cafédirect HQ says:
    January 25, 2010 at 9:59 am

    Christine, unfortunately we are not able to sponsor any individuals who are going out to volunteer with emergency aid campaigns. At Cafédirect our mission is to change lives and build communities through inspirational, sustainable business, so we focus on trade rather than aid to support sustainable livelihoods of our grower partners. We reinvest profits back into their businesses in order to strengthen them, which also includes supporting them in selling to other buyers and diversification to other crops to diversify their income opportunities. It is our growers who democratically decide how and where this money is spent through Cafedirect Producers Foundation and their focus is on developing businesses which are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

  2. Carole Green says:
    January 24, 2010 at 11:52 pm

    It’s very sad that Sharon Curran has not understood. There are already agencies helping to rescue and provide basic food and shelter. In addition it is very important that the means of earning a living is not lost and what you say about helping to continue the export of coffee is vital to these people in recovering from the effects of the earthquake.
    I do hope that someone can explain it to her as it would be so sad if she stopped buying your product for all the wrong reasons

  3. Cafédirect HQ says:
    January 22, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    Everyone at Cafédirect is deeply concerned for the health and safety of the people of Haiti. Our direct connections with the country lie with the RECOCARNO staff and grower communities who we have worked with since 1998, and over those years have built close relationships with many people there.

    In reporting the news that our friends at RECOCARNO were relatively unaffected by the earthquake, we were reporting on their personal health and safety, not their business capacity. They expressed to us their relief that their farmsand infrastructure had escaped the worst of the damage. For the farming communities and small holder growers that we partner with in Northern Haiti coffee growing and exportation (not just to Cafédirect) is their livelihood, and essential to the futures of them and their families.

    Cafedirect re-invests over 50% of our profits back into both the businesses and communities of our grower partners, which is over and above the fairtrade premiums that we pay. An example of this reinvestment in Haiti was after the hurricanes in 2008 where we provided funding for RECOCARNO to re-plant banana trees and other native food crops to feed their families. At the time, we received a report on how this funding was able to help which commented that “The funding has been extremely important and has helped the area with providing food.”

  4. Sharon Curran says:
    January 20, 2010 at 10:04 pm

    I don’t mean to be rude but in all honesty I think the people of Haiti probably have more to worry about at the moment than the exporation of your coffee.

    I think this is disgraceful – those poor people have lost their homes, their loved ones and you seem to be more concerned about the possibility that it will affect your product.

    I will not be purchasing anymore cafe Direct products on this basis!

  5. Christine says:
    January 20, 2010 at 4:43 pm

    I am so pleased to read that Recocarno have not been directly affected.

    I am hoping to go to Haiti with Gloval Volunteers International later in the year. They have organised a team to go out straight away and help with immediate issues – I have been accepted to go with a follow up group to help with distribution and if appropriate teaching and child care.
    As Cafe Direct already have links with Haiti, I wondered whether you would be able to sponsor me please? Costs have not been confirmed yet, but I will have to pay for flights and general living costs whilst I am there. In return, I will of course be giving my time, skills and energy to help in any way I can.
    Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

    Best regards

    Chris

  6. Tweets that mention Cafédirect | Fairtrade Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Products | Update from our grower partners in Haiti -- Topsy.com says:
    January 15, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cafédirect , Sam Roger. Sam Roger said: cafedirect #Haiti coffee producers have not been directly affected but getting harvests shipped out will be tough http://tinyurl.com/yc3ss2c [...]