December 2010
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) and 4th Sector Health have joined in an alliance to enhance food security in coffee-growing communities in Latin America. GMCR is investing in activities to improve economic outcomes and agricultural practices of these communities in ten countries around the world, and will work with 4th Sector Health to add a health component to its programs in Nicaragua and Honduras. This investment has been spurred by GMCR’s commitment to helping people in coffee-producing communities lead healthier and more prosperous lives, and GMCR’s need to ensure a stable supply chain for its coffee, which is produced by numerous communities throughout the world.
GMCR, in partnership with the Sustainable Food Lab, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and other stakeholders, studied the issues affecting these communities. The research identified a situation called “los meses flacos” or “the thin months” – the months between the coffee harvest when coffee farmers struggle to provide adequate food and nutrition to their families. This struggle affects the productivity, health, and overall livelihoods of coffee farmers and their families. Pregnant women and children, especially, are negatively affected by this cycle of food security.
To demonstrate how a robust health program can strengthen economic food security programs, 4th Sector Health will fund an additional program component in the GMCR-funded regions that addresses health issues related to food. The alliance will improve the health of families in coffee-growing communities, reduce the economic burden of illness, and improve productivity and quality of life. Adding a strong health component to these food security programs will enhance GMCR’s program outcomes and provide valuable learning for future program expansion.
GMCR contributes at least five percent of its pre-tax profit annually to support social and environmental projects. In 2010, the company was named one of the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" in a list published by Corporate Responsibility Magazine.