Sustainable Growth
Something that we value most at Café on the North Bank is advocating for sustainable growing practices among our South American coffee farmers. Read more about the challenges these farmers face and our initiatives to solve these problems in the name of economic longevity.
The Challenges Our Farmers Face
Several threats, including climate change and pest infestation, are currently threatening the livelihoods of South American farmers
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1.) Climate Change
Considering the main coffee plant species, Arabica coffee is grown in 64 to 70 degree weather, increasing temperatures are causing beans to ripen too quickly. Unfortunately, this both damages the coffee plant itself and leads to a decrease in demand because customers no longer enjoy the flavor.
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2.) Pest Infestation
Increased temperatures result in more pests swarming the crops. Many times pests require the use of pesticides, which threatens the organic, high-quality bean.
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3.) Reductions in Income and Production
In high-producing countries like Brazil that can produce up to 2,595,000 metric tons of beans in a year, labor demands are being cut dangerously low. With climate change causing about 70-75% of suitable farming land to drop to only 20-25%, these reductions are taking a toll on the market
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Our Sustainable Growth Initiatives
Supporting sustainability initiatives is the guiding practice of our business, and we are take the following steps to support our farmers:
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Only purchasing sustainably sourced coffee beans
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Partnering with alliances such as The Alliance Peru Cacao that fight for long term sustainability in the coffee industry
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Supporting the research of shaded plantations and heat resistant coffee strands to combat climate change
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Generating cultural awareness among our customers
By shopping our beans and attending our learning events, you can help us spread awareness about the sustainability initiative for South American growers!
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