Press Releases
Portland Roasting Introduces 2008 Organic Sumatra Holiday Coffee
Sumatran orphanage to be rebuilt through product premiums paid by
the roaster
October 13, 2008 - A rural orphanage in Sumatra, Indonesia will be rebuilt, and its residing children will receive basic living supplies as a direct result of Portland Roasting’s 2008 Organic Sumatra holiday coffee, available in November and December at New Seasons, Zupan’s Markets, Sheridan Fruit Company, Fred Meyer (Stadium), Lamb’s Garden Home and Made In Oregon stores. The holiday coffee, and other Portland Roasting coffee, can also be purchased online at http://www.portlandroasting.com.
Priced at $8.75 for a 12-ounce bag, the Organic Sumatra holiday coffee has flavor notes that include cinnamon, spices, cocoa, cherry and wine, making for an earthy, heavy-bodied blend that is low in acidity.
The new Sumatra product is the first certified organic coffee to be attained by Portland Roasting through its signature Farm Friendly Direct purchasing program. Through this program, Portland Roasting engages in direct relationships with growers and pays above market prices to ensure quality coffee and enrich the farms and communities in which the farmers live.
Portland Roasting secured an ongoing agreement to purchase the shade grown Sumatra coffee beans from a division of Ecom Coffee Group called PT Indo Cafco, a co-op that represents a number of small family farms in Northern Sumatra. Portland Roasting is also working directly with a foundation in Northern Sumatra called Yayasan Bani Adam Permata Hati to support multiple causes, such as Pembangunan orphanage, in the Takengon/Lake Tawar communities where the roaster’s newest coffee is grown.
The partnerships with the Sumatra co-op and foundation represent a departure for Portland Roasting and its typical approach of working directly with farm owners. However, given that most family farms in Northern Sumatra are only about two acres in size, managing partner Mark Stell opted for the best product available, while identifying a worthy community project.
“Our new Sumatra partner provides us with a consistently exceptional product,” said Stell. “It’s also very gratifying to help an orphanage which is home to many children who were orphaned by the tsunami of December 2004. This is the kind of positive and meaningful impact that we are proud to make as a result of our Farm Friendly Direct partnerships.”
For more information about Portland Roasting’s new Farm Friendly Direct Sumatra partner and the new holiday coffee, go to http://www.portlandroasting.com/ffd/sumatra.
Established in Portland, Ore. in 1996, Portland Roasting is a premium
roaster of coffee and espresso for wholesale customers and direct
consumers. The heart of Portland Roasting lies in its Farm Friendly
Direct™ company-wide purchasing program in which it pays its growers
above market prices to ensure quality coffee while sustaining the families
and enriching the communities in which the farmers live. In 2006, 2007 and
2008, Portland Roasting achieved finalist rankings for “Roaster of
the Year” by Roast Magazine. For more information go to www.portlandroasting.com.
# # #
Media Contact:
Kelliann Amico
Amico Public Relations
503-224-5486
kelliann@amicopr.com
October 13, 2008 - A rural orphanage in Sumatra, Indonesia will be rebuilt, and its residing children will receive basic living supplies as a direct result of Portland Roasting’s 2008 Organic Sumatra holiday coffee, available in November and December at New Seasons, Zupan’s Markets, Sheridan Fruit Company, Fred Meyer (Stadium), Lamb’s Garden Home and Made In Oregon stores. The holiday coffee, and other Portland Roasting coffee, can also be purchased online at http://www.portlandroasting.com.
Priced at $8.75 for a 12-ounce bag, the Organic Sumatra holiday coffee has flavor notes that include cinnamon, spices, cocoa, cherry and wine, making for an earthy, heavy-bodied blend that is low in acidity.
The new Sumatra product is the first certified organic coffee to be attained by Portland Roasting through its signature Farm Friendly Direct purchasing program. Through this program, Portland Roasting engages in direct relationships with growers and pays above market prices to ensure quality coffee and enrich the farms and communities in which the farmers live.
Portland Roasting secured an ongoing agreement to purchase the shade grown Sumatra coffee beans from a division of Ecom Coffee Group called PT Indo Cafco, a co-op that represents a number of small family farms in Northern Sumatra. Portland Roasting is also working directly with a foundation in Northern Sumatra called Yayasan Bani Adam Permata Hati to support multiple causes, such as Pembangunan orphanage, in the Takengon/Lake Tawar communities where the roaster’s newest coffee is grown.
The partnerships with the Sumatra co-op and foundation represent a departure for Portland Roasting and its typical approach of working directly with farm owners. However, given that most family farms in Northern Sumatra are only about two acres in size, managing partner Mark Stell opted for the best product available, while identifying a worthy community project.
“Our new Sumatra partner provides us with a consistently exceptional product,” said Stell. “It’s also very gratifying to help an orphanage which is home to many children who were orphaned by the tsunami of December 2004. This is the kind of positive and meaningful impact that we are proud to make as a result of our Farm Friendly Direct partnerships.”
For more information about Portland Roasting’s new Farm Friendly Direct Sumatra partner and the new holiday coffee, go to http://www.portlandroasting.com/ffd/sumatra.
About Portland Roasting
Established in Portland, Ore. in 1996, Portland Roasting is a premium
roaster of coffee and espresso for wholesale customers and direct
consumers. The heart of Portland Roasting lies in its Farm Friendly
Direct™ company-wide purchasing program in which it pays its growers
above market prices to ensure quality coffee while sustaining the families
and enriching the communities in which the farmers live. In 2006, 2007 and
2008, Portland Roasting achieved finalist rankings for “Roaster of
the Year” by Roast Magazine. For more information go to www.portlandroasting.com.
# # #
Media Contact:
Kelliann Amico
Amico Public Relations
503-224-5486
kelliann@amicopr.com
Press Release Archive
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