Planet Bean Coffee News October 3, 2007

Planet Bean Signs Trademarking and Licensing Agreement with Ethiopia The first Canadian coffee company to become licensed distributor of Ethiopia's trademarked coffees  

GUELPH, ONTARIO - October 3, 2007 - Planet Bean, a Canadian pioneer fair trade coffee roaster joins the growing network of licensed distributors of Ethiopia's trademarked coffees.

Planet Bean is a company that buys and roasts only 100% certified fair trade coffees. It has been selling, distributing and serving fair trade coffee for a decade in Guelph, Ontario.

The company has been purchasing Ethiopian coffees from the OROMIA Coffee Farmers Union since 2002. The Ethiopian fine coffees it roasts include Yirgachaffe, Harar and Sidamo, which are some of the company's top sellers. It plans to increase its current quantity of these trademarked coffees.

Bill Barrett, one of the Planet Bean cooperative members stated, "The Ethiopians have been growing and drinking coffee longer than anyone on earth. I think they should control the rights to their own coffee origins. This agreement is consistent with our company's ethical approach, and it recognizes the excellence and uniqueness of Ethiopian coffees."

After signing the agreement on behalf of Planet Bean, Byron Cunningham, the company's president, expressed his pleasure that his country, Canada, has registered all the three coffees and that his company has taken the lead in becoming the first one to sign in Canada. He said that he is hopeful that his company's acknowledgement of these trademarks will encourage many others to sign the license agreement.

Mr. Abdurahim Mohammed Ali, Charge' d'Affairs of the Ethiopian Embassy to Canada said, "It is a great occasion to witness the induction of Planet Bean Coffee to the family of the network of Ethiopian trademarked coffees. Ethiopia welcomes this first Canadian licensee and I am quite confident that many more companies will follow its example throughout Canada."

An extensive mobilization and public awareness outreach program is underway across the many coffee growing regions of Ethiopia to heighten interest and participation in the Initiative. At the same time, licensed distribution in Ethiopia's major fine coffee export markets is expanding to include coffee brokers, roasters, and retailers.

Currently there are 23 licensed distributors and about forty five companies in active dialogue with Ethiopia. The long term target is to license 150-200 critical players in the fine coffee industry worldwide. Extensive consumer awareness resulting from the Oxfam campaign last year has been effective in fueling the licensing efforts of Ethiopia, as patrons ask that their coffee companies support Ethiopia in its endeavor to improve the livelihood of millions of farmers across the country.

Ethiopia is posed to have an excellent chance at the 2008 SCAA annual conference to showcase its Fine Coffees Initiative and their brands, as well as its rich heritage, history and culture as it has been selected by the Specialty Coffee Association of America to be the first African Portrait Country during the next conference in Minneapolis, incidentally termed 'Roots', coinciding with Ethiopia as the undisputed origin of coffee.

Notes:

The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO) is spearheading the Ethiopian Trademarking and Licensing Initiative

The Initiative has financial support from the UK's Department for International Development, and advice and training from Washington DC based NGO Light Years IP, but no funding directly from coffee companies.

The EIPO and law firm Arnold and Porter have secured Trademarks in 28+ countries to date. In the US a Trademark for Yirgacheffe has been secured and the two others are still being sought despite opposition. More information on the Initiative and who is supporting it is available on the dedicated website www.ethiopiancoffeenetwork.com. For more insights into Ethiopian coffee farmers' lives and the way the coffee market works see also www.blackgoldmovie.com

Planet Bean Coffee News January 24, 2006

Coffee Connects Women's Issues Continents Apart 

A unique project is linking women in Guelph with indigenous women in the remote northern Andes. Café Femenino is an initiative of some of the poorest women in Peru. It involves them growing their own coffee, keeping it separate from other coffee and keeping the revenue generated through its sale in their own hands.

Guelph's Planet Bean Coffee imports and roasts Café Femenino which is sold throughout southern Ontario by cafés and retailers. The coffee is also supplied free to local women's shelters through Women In Crisis (W.I.C.).  "This is remarkable since these Peruvian women would normally be passive and marginalized by the men around them" commented Bill Barrett of Planet Bean Coffee. "They live in isolated homes, cook over open fires, carry their water, look after children, work their farms and are under the control of their husbands.

Women in these rural areas are said to be at a 70% risk of sexual assault. They have few resources, no support network limited education and no control over the household income."  "Cafe Femenino is their proactive plan to change their lives and the lives of their children. At Planet Bean we have decided to fully support their efforts and get people buying their coffee" said Barrett.

The coffee is organic and certified fair trade by Transfair Canada plus the women are paid higher than the official fair trade price. Part of that goes into a separate fund which they administer for community projects.

"This summer our roaster and I travelled to Peru to find out more about this story, meet and interview the women involved, gather video and photos of their lives, and bring that back here to tell people about their project. We have heard and seen some amazing things" said Barrett. There are now more than 750 women involved in 50 communities. 

Part of the Café Feminino mandate is to connect women in communities around the world which is why Planet Bean is providing the coffee to W.I.C. "Through this innovative project we will be able to help women who have experienced abuse both at a local and global level", said Sly Castaldi, Executive Director for W.I.C, "It's another example of how we can work together to make a difference in the world."  

The coffee also tastes great. "These women have been focused on growing and processing a quality product. They know that their long term success will be based on flavour and their coffee produces an exceptionally tasty roast", enthused Barrett. One of the coffee shops in the area selling Café Feminino is the Morning Glory Café and Bakery.

Planet Bean Coffee News November 22, 2005 

It's official, our coffee bar is now open at 51 Macdonell Street, downtown Guelph. 

Hours: 8 to 5:30 Monday to Friday 9 to 5 Saturday

Planet Bean Coffee News November 12, 2005

We're pleased to announce that a new  cafe location will be opening in beautiful downtown Guelph. Opening soon, gourmet coffee bar and fresh roasted bean sales as well as an assortment of other Fair Trade & Organic certified products to enjoy.

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