Washington, DC (Vocus/PRWEB ) — Sales of organic, shade-grown coffee grown to the Bird Friendly standards of the National Zoo’s Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center rose to nearly $3.5 million in 2008, according to a report by Dr. Robert Rice, a geographer at the SMBC. According to the report, The Global Market for Bird Friendly Coffee: 2008, the majority (61 percent) of all Bird Friendly coffee roasted was consumed in the United States, followed by Japan (36 percent) and Canada (3 percent).

“By choosing to drink Bird Friendly coffee to kick-start their morning, consumers can help protect quality habitat for birds and other wildlife.”

Bird Friendly is certified organic coffee produced on farms with a shade cover that provides a substantial and vital habitat for migratory and resident birds in tropical landscapes, which are increasingly threatened by deforestation globally at an unprecedented rate. The Bird Friendly criteria are the world’s most stringent standards for shade-grown coffee production. Migratory birds, including the popular Baltimore Oriole, are not only beautiful with vibrant songs, but are integral to tropical and temperate ecosystems alike, providing flower pollination and seed dispersal, among other roles.

“Consumers increasingly want to know that the food they eat and coffee they drink are grown and processed in ways that are healthy for farmers and the environment,” said Rice, who coordinates the Bird Friendly certification program at the SMBC. “By choosing to drink Bird Friendly coffee to kick-start their morning, consumers can help protect quality habitat for birds and other wildlife.”

According to the report, more than 95 percent of Bird Friendly coffee comes from coffee farms in Central and South America with the remainder coming from Africa. Some 1,400 producers manage more than 12,000 acres (5,000 hectares) of Bird Friendly area and coffee farms, and they produced more than 6 million pounds of Bird Friendly coffee in the 2007–2008 harvest year. Peru ranks first in Bird Friendly coffee production (39 percent), and together, Peru, Guatemala and Mexico account for 77 percent of all production.

The volume of Bird Friendly coffee sold in the United States between 2000 and 2008 increased more than a hundredfold (averaging a 145 percent annual increase), from fewer than 2,000 pounds to 200,400 pounds. There are 44 roasters in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, and Japan that carry Bird Friendly coffee imported by 16 companies.

The Zoo has partnered with coffee roaster Golden Valley Farms (West Chester, Pa.) to serve its Bird Friendly-certified organic coffee in the Zoo’s three restaurants as of December 1, 2009.

Contact: Sandra Marquardt, 301-592-0077

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The new collection of web sites – www.GreenMountainCoffee.com, www.Tullys.com, www.CaribouKcups.com, and www.NewmansOwnOrganicsCoffee.com, — features four different “stores” but only one checkout. Coffee lovers can browse among Green Mountain Coffee®, Tully’s®, Caribou® K-Cups®, and Newman’s Own® Organics coffees by using the tabs at the top of their screen. They can add items to their cart from any brand, but only need to check out once.

Consumers can also take advantage of Café EXPRESS™, an automatic home delivery program that will ship any of the brands directly to the consumer’s door. Café EXPRESS gives its members tremendous variety, exclusive discounts, and a fresh, direct-from-the-roaster taste. Almost 80 varieties of K-Cups and 74 varieties of whole bean or ground coffee are offered through the four web sites, and all are available for Café EXPRESS delivery.

“We wanted to make it as easy as possible for people to find their favorite coffees, teas, and hot cocoas,” said Ken Crites, Director of Consumer Direct for GMCR’s Specialty Coffee Business Unit. “Our ‘one-stop shopping’ web site puts all the coffee brands we package and sell within easy reach.”

Coffee lovers will also find Keurig® Single-Cup Brewers, accessories, gifts and samplers, customer ratings and coffee tasting notes on the site.

About Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.

As a leader in the specialty coffee industry, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. is recognized for its award-winning coffees, innovative brewing technology, and socially responsible business practices. GMCR’s operations are managed through two business units. The Specialty Coffee business unit produces coffee, tea and hot cocoa from its family of brands, including Tully’s Coffee®, Green Mountain Coffee® and Newman’s Own® Organics coffee. The Keurig business unit is a pioneer and leading manufacturer of gourmet single-cup brewing systems. K-Cup® portion packs for Keurig® Single-Cup Brewers are produced by a variety of licensed roasters, including Green Mountain Coffee and Tully’s Coffee. GMCR supports local and global communities by offsetting 100% of its direct greenhouse gas emissions, investing in Fair Trade Certified™ coffee, and donating at least five percent of its pre-tax profits to social and environmental projects. Visit www.GreenMountainCoffee.com and www.Keurig.com for more information.

GMCR routinely posts information that may be of importance to investors in the Investor Services section of its web site, including news releases and its complete financial statements, as filed with the SEC. The Company encourages investors to consult this section of its web site regularly for important information and news. Additionally, by subscribing to the Company’s automatic email news release delivery, individuals can receive news directly from GMCR as it is released.

Contacts
Green Mountain Coffee
Maureen Martin, 802-882-2289
Maureen.Martin@gmcr.com

Greenfield, Mass. (Vocus/PRWEB ) September 9, 2009 — Whether a result of bottom-up pressure from students or top-down decision-making from proactive faculty and food service administrators, organic coffee is more available than ever on college campuses these days, according to the Organic Coffee Collaboration, a project of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) (www.ota.com/organic_and_you/coffee_collaboration.html).

” The switch to organic coffee on campus is happening despite the current state of the economy”

For example, Caffe Ibis (Logan, UT) has seen sales of its triple-certified (organic, Fair Trade Certified™, and Bird Friendly®) coffees increase dramatically over last year at the University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT), and Utah State University (Logan, UT), the result of both expanded availability and, in the case of the University of Utah, benefactors, faculty and students alike urging the food service to “green” its offerings.

Equator Estate Coffees & Teas (San Rafael, CA) has provided organic coffees to the City College of San Francisco since 2007 and is expanding into college food services nationwide by providing organic coffee to Feel Good World (www.FeelGoodWorld.org), a student-run social venture to raise money and consciousness about world hunger and sustainability at campuses across the country. Working hand-in-hand with the organization, Equator is developing a coffee service program at ten college locations, including the University of California-Berkeley, Columbia University (New York City, NY), and the University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ).

Selling its Fair Trade organic coffee to over 175 colleges and universities nationwide, Green Mountain Coffee (Waterbury, VT) has seen these sales triple over the past two years. Key locations include Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT), Indiana University (Bloomington, IN), the University of Massachusetts (Boston, MA), and, of course, the University of Vermont (Burlington, VT).

Through several brand initiatives, S&D Coffee (Concord, NC) currently supplies organic, Fair Trade, and Rain Forest Alliance certified coffees to over 400 colleges and universities.

Decaffeinated coffee is also popular among college students and administrators who enjoy a good cup of coffee but need to reduce their caffeine intake. Much of the decaf on campus has been decaffeinated using Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company’s (Vancouver, Canada) process, as it uses only water to extract caffeine from the coffee beans. A new company using carbon dioxide (CO2) for the decaffeination process, Maximus Coffee Group (Houston, TX), just got certified to the federal organic standards, and its products will hit the college market soon.

“The switch to organic coffee on campus is happening despite the current state of the economy,” said Christine Bushway, OTA Executive Director.

The North American organic coffee market reached 1.3 billion dollars in 2008, according to Daniele Giovannucci, author of the recent North American Organic Coffee Industry Survey: 2009. The amount of organic coffee imported into the United States and Canada increased 12 percent during 2008, rising from approximately 81 million pounds to approximately 89 million pounds with most of the sales taking place in the United States. The 29 percent annual average growth rate for the organic category documented by Giovannucci between 2000 and 2008 dwarfs the estimated 1.5 percent projected annual growth rate of the conventional coffee industry. The survey is available from the Organic Trade Association.

Organic coffee is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, avoid the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic farmers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production.

Background:
Organic coffee is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, avoid the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic farmers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production.

The Organic Coffee Collaboration - a project of the Organic Trade Association, the business association for the North American organic industry, includes the companies listed below. These participants represent some of the newest companies in the market as well as well known firms that source, decaffeinate, or roast for the largest coffee companies in the United States.

CAFFE IBIS (Logan, UT) - An award-winning “green business,” Caffe Ibis is a custom coffee roasting house featuring triple certified–organic, Fair Trade, and Smithsonian Shade Grown “Bird-Friendly®”- coffees, mountain grown, mountain roasted. Caffe Ibis® also operates a celebrated gallery/deli-licious espresso bar. University franchise, private label, equipment programs, monthly specials, and consulting services are available.

CHIAPAS FARMS (Austin, TX) - Chiapas Farms specializes in superior fair trade foods. Its Café de Chiapas coffee is from an organic/fair trade cooperative in the Chiapas, Mexico, highlands. The coffee has a nutty and buttery taste with a smooth, slightly sweet finish. The product is offered in dark and medium roast, and is available online.

CRIMSON CUP (Columbus, OH) - Since 1991, Crimson Cup® Coffee & Tea has roasted and packaged great-tasting coffee in Columbus, Ohio. Led by Harvard “Crimson” graduate Greg Ubert, Crimson Cup offers a full line of certified organic Fair Trade coffee and teas to over 350 coffee houses, colleges and universities and grocers throughout 26 states.

ELAN ORGANIC COFFEES (San Diego, CA) - Elan Organic Coffees is a coffee developer and importer offering certified organic socially responsible and Bird Friendly® coffees it has developed through partnerships with village co-ops in coffee-producing countries. Elan pioneered the supply of the world’s finest certified organic coffees, while supporting farmers and protecting the environment.

EQUATOR ESTATE COFFEES & TEAS (San Rafael, CA) - Equator is known for its distinctive specialty coffees, socially responsible sourcing, and longstanding relationships with prominent chefs and national retailers who are passionate about quality. The women-owned company procures exceptional certified organic coffees from farmers who practice environmental stewardship, resulting in an empowered supply chain from crop to cup.

GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE (Waterbury, VT) - Green Mountain Coffee is recognized as a leader in the specialty coffee industry for its award-winning coffees and socially and environmentally responsible business practices. Green Mountain Coffee offers a broad selection of double-certified organic and Fair Trade coffees under the Green Mountain Coffee® and Newman’s Own® Organics brands.

MAXIMUS COFFEE GROUP (Houston, TX) - Maximus Coffee Group’s carbon dioxide (CO2) / triple-filtered water decaffeination process is the only decaffeination plant in the United States that supplies coffee both naturally decaffeinated and USDA Organic certified. It is an EPA Green Power Partner with one-third of its energy coming from alternative sources.

ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION (Greenfield, MA) - OTA’s mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy. OTA’s members include farmers, processors, importers, distributors, retailers, certifiers, and more.

S&D COFFEE (Concord, NC) - S&D is the second largest coffee roaster in the United States supplying both conventional and organic coffees. The company feels strongly about fostering sustainable agriculture and promoting a healthy planet. Quality Assurance International (QAI) certifies S&D’s six organic coffees sold under the Buffalo & Spring label.

SWISS WATER DECAFFEINATED COFFEE COMPANY (Burnaby, BC, Canada) - A wholesome process for decaffeinating coffee – pure water, 100% chemical free – ensures the best of the bean remains, while only caffeine is removed. Swiss Water decaffeinates organic coffees for premium roasters. Look for the SWISS WATER® seal on packs or in stores to guarantee remarkable tasting 99.9% caffeine-free coffee.

TRUE ORIGIN ORGANICS (Weston, FL, and Bogotá, Colombia) - True Origin Organics premium Colombian coffee hails from the magnificent Santa Marta and Tierradentro valleys. Like fine wine, this coffee has one true origin. It is harvested, roasted and packed right where it grows. True Origins Organics is available at East Coast specialty and natural stores and mid-Atlantic Whole Foods Markets.

See http://www.ota.com/organic_and_you/coffee_collaboration.html for further information on the Organic Coffee Collaboration.

*(For space reasons, only a few of the many colleges/universities offering organic coffee are listed.)

Contact: Sandra Marquardt
301-592-0077

WATERBURY, Vt.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) has ranked 11th on Fortune’s annual list of the 100 Fastest-Growing Companies.

The Waterbury-based company was the highest-ranked consumer package goods company on the list, which includes profitable, publicly-held companies with at least $50 million in annual revenue. For the first time, the list includes global companies that trade on a U.S. exchange and file quarterly reports. Companies are judged on revenue growth rate, EPS growth rate, and three-year annualized total return to investors. Last month, GMCR reported outstanding top and bottom line growth for its third quarter results, with 61% increase in net sales and 123% increase in net income over the same quarter last year.

“I believe that our high ranking is due to the winning combination of our outstanding coffees, the Keurig Single-Cup Brewing System, and the skills and dedication of our employees,” said Lawrence J. Blanford, GMCR’s President and CEO. “We’re honored to be recognized for building a company that is making a profit and making a difference in the local and global communities where we work.”

At the same time the Company was being recognized for fast growth, Mr. Blanford was recognized for his leadership by CRO, a corporate social responsibility magazine. “Nominations for CRO Magazine’s 2009 Responsible CEO of the Year Award only go to leaders who have taken large risks to set performance standards in environmental, social and corporate governance,” said Jay Whitehead, publisher of CRO Magazine. Winners of the CRO award will be announced at a conference in October.

Earlier this year, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. was named one of the “100 Most Trustworthy Companies,” by Forbes.com, based on transparent and conservative accounting practices and prudent management.

About Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR)

As a leader in the specialty coffee industry, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. is recognized for its award-winning coffees, innovative brewing technology, and socially responsible business practices. GMCR’s operations are managed through two business units. The Specialty Coffee business unit produces coffee, tea and hot cocoa from its family of brands, including Tully’s Coffee®, Green Mountain Coffee® and Newman’s Own® Organics coffee. The Keurig business unit is a pioneer and leading manufacturer of gourmet single-cup brewing systems. K-Cup® portion packs for Keurig® Single-Cup Brewers are produced by a variety of licensed roasters, including Green Mountain Coffee and Tully’s Coffee. GMCR supports local and global communities by offsetting 100% of its direct greenhouse gas emissions, investing in Fair Trade Certified™ coffee, and donating at least five percent of its pre-tax profits to social and environmental projects. Visit www.GreenMountainCoffee.com and www.Keurig.com for more information.

GMCR routinely posts information that may be of importance to investors in the “Investor Services – Press Releases” section of its website. This information may include quarterly and annual earnings announcements, significant news releases, complete financial statements as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as product and other news about the Company. We encourage investors to visit this section of our website regularly for important information and news. Additionally, by subscribing to the Company’s automatic email news release delivery, individuals can receive news directly from GMCR as it is released.

Contacts

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.
Sandy Yusen, 866-968-2739
Director of Public Relations
sandy.yusen@gmcr.com