Grounds for Change: Sustainable Fair Trade Organic Coffee & Giveaway


Grounds for Change is a family owned and operated coffee roasting business located in the Pacific Northwest . They roast their 100% Fair Trade, Organic coffee in small batches to ensure that you receive the freshest coffee possible.

All of their coffee is Fair Trade Certified by TransFair USA and the Organic Certification meets the stringent Organic Processor Standards enforced by the United States Federal Government and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The vast majority of the coffee they sell is also Shade Grown Coffee which ensures healthy habitat for migratory birds.

A number of community-based programs in coffee-growing countries directly benefit from the purchase of Grounds for Change coffee. For example, farmers in Peru and Mexico receive a higher price per pound for their coffee (above and beyond the going rate for certified coffee) to help support local domestic violence intervention programs and small business loans for women.

Grounds for Change is a sustainable business. Below are examples of what they are doing to achieve their goals:
  • Use 100% renewable energy and off-set all of our CO2 emissions, including those from operations, packaging, inbound freight and outbound shipping to customers.
  • Compost all organic waste including coffee grounds, coffee filters and food scraps.
  • Purchase and print on paper made from 100% recycled content and recycle all office paper, toner cartridges, cardboard, glass, metal and plastic.
  • Recycle all empty burlap coffee bags by donating them to local organic farmers for weed suppression and erosion control.
  • Recycle all coffee chaff, the organic by-product of the roasting process, by giving it to local, organic farmers to be used as a nitrogen-rich soil amendment.
  • Recycle all inbound freight pallets by donating them to a local business that rebuilds them for reuse.
  • Donate well over 1% of their gross annual sales to social and environmental organizations as part of our membership with 1% For The Planet.
  • Work closely with organizations promoting positive change including the Northwest Shade Coffee Campaign, Save Our Wild Salmon, Global Partnerships, Cafe Femenino Foundation and many other local and national non-profits.
Grounds for Change is a member of:

Their Mission


"To support social equity and environmental sustainability through fair trade, organic, shade grown coffee."

They fulfill their mission through the following:
  1. All Grounds for Change coffee is 100% fair trade and organic certified. They believe in the importance of supporting these certifications, financially and professionally.
  2. Grounds for Change is a member of 1% for the Planet and through this organization, donates a percentage of sales to the Northwest Shade Coffee CampaignSave Our Wild Salmon and CarbonFund.org in support of the valuable work of these organizations.
  3. Through their memberships, they support and adhere to the guidelines of the following organizations: TransFair USACo-Op America, and the Northwest Shade Coffee Campaign. Grounds for Change is also recognized by the Songbird Foundation and endorsed by Catholic Relief Services.
  4. Grounds for Change educates consumers on what fair trade and organic certifications mean and why they are important. They provide opportunities for our visitors to make their voices heard through participation in national and international campaigns.
  5. Through their Affiliate Program, Grounds for Change supports nonprofit organizations whose goals closely resemble their own, allowing them to give back to those organizations who are working to make positive change.
  6. Grounds for Change is a member of Coffee Kids, an international, nonprofit, organization that has helped thousands of men, women, and children in Mexico and Central America to improve the quality of their lives.
  7. Grounds for Change is a sustainable business. They purchase 100% renewable energy through Puget Sound Energy's Green Power Program. The Green Power Program buys renewable energy (wind, solar and biomass) for inclusion in the electric grid in amounts used by those purchasing green power. In addition, they offset 100% of the non-renewable energy that is used in business operations and transportation. They use exclusively 100% post-consumer content paper, donate our jute coffee bags to local organic farms for use in erosion control and reuse and recycle as much as possible. 

MY REVIEW

Grounds for Change sent me a great sampling of their fair trade organic coffee, since we only drink Organic coffee anymore :)

I really enjoyed their coffee.  Their packaging was great and kept the flavor of the whole bean throughout the duration of the opened package.

Each bean was flavorful and full of aromas that just filled the room with an amazing smell of great coffee!

I LOVE everything that this company stands for and everything that it is doing to help, not only the environment, but in the sustainability of local and international farms and trade.

The fact that they are fair trade is so extremely important in the vitality of commerce in less fortunate areas around the world.

In addition to supporting industries such as Cafe Femenino Mexico, which was my favorite coffee, they also have a special coffee in which proceeds benefit The Humane Society!

Competitively priced, make sure to check out Grounds for Change - enjoy their coffee while making a HUGE difference in the world!

Can't wait? Try to win a bag!

GIVEAWAY

I really wanted one of my followers to be able to try this great coffee, so I am giving away one of the bags of whole bean organic coffee that Grounds for Change sent to me.

The winner will receive an 8 oz bag of Nordic Blend - Dark Roast - Bold notes of Black Cherry and Chocolate

This coffee, as all of theirs are, is USDA Organic, Shade Grown, Fair Trade, Certified Carbon Free

Here's how you can win:

NOTE: You must publicly follow Going Green with Noah via Google Friend Connect in order to enter any of my giveaways!

MANDATORY ENTRIES (worth 1 each – Leave separate comments):

• Visit Grounds for Change and tell me something great about their company that was not in this review! +1

OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

* Email Grounds for Change - Sincerely them about this great giveaway AND what you LOVE about their company and product +5

• Follow me on Twitter +1

• Follow me on Facebook +1

* Follow me on Facebook Networked Blogs by clicking on the button on the sidebar - +2

• Tweet this: I'm trying to #win a #giveaway for a bag of #fairtrade #organic #Coffee from Groundsforchange.com @goinggreenwnoah - http://tinyurl.com/2f9j59u

        Tweet everyday for additional entries!! - Up to 1 x per day - +1

• Sign up for "Going Green with Noah e-newsletter" and activate subscription. +2

        This is a new link - so if you've done it before - please resign up

• Rate me 5 stars on Alexa.com +2

• Vote for “Going Green with Noah” on Top Mommy Blogs! +2

        - Do this every day for 2 extra entries every day into any ONE of my giveaways!!!

• Vote for "Going Green with Noah" on Top Baby Blogs! +2

        - Do this every day for 2 extra entries every day into any ONE of my giveaways!!!

* Vote for me "On the Fence" +2

        
- Do this every day for 2 extra entries every day into any ONE of my giveaways!!!

• Grab my NEW button and put it on your blog (leave me the link) +3

• Blog about this giveaway (leave me the link) +5

• Enter any of my other giveaways +2 per giveaway


Contest ends November 1st, 2010, 7 pm CST. Winner will be drawn via a random number generator.

Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above in exchange for this review. No monetary compensation was received by me. This is my completely honest opinion above and may differ from yours. I cannot and will not be held liable for lost or products not received.

Comments

ranya112 said…
Besides coffee, tea, and chocolate, Grounds for Change also carries Fair Trade mugs, coffee grinders, scoops, coasters and other coffee related equipment.
clc408 said…
I learned that they support Micro-credit so that over 4,000 women are now running their own small businesses thanks to micro-credit projects in rural Mexico and Nicaragua.
clc408 said…
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/clc408/status/28809080802
Attila & Tamara said…
They have a Coffee Explorer club which is basically a coffee of the month club. How great would that be?!?!?!

I publicly follow your blog!

szogediek at yahoo dot com
Attila & Tamara said…
I follow you on Twitter

ID: @szogediek

szogediek at yahoo dot com
Attila & Tamara said…
I voted for you on Top baby blogs

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#1
Attila & Tamara said…
I voted for you on Top baby blogs

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#2
Attila & Tamara said…
I voted for you on "On the Fence"

szogediek at yahoo dot com

#1
Attila & Tamara said…
I voted for you on "On the Fence"

szogediek at yahoo dot com

#2
Emmy Coffee said…
Grounds for Change describes why Fair Trade is so pertinent:

As stated by Oxfam America, "Many developing nations depend on coffee as their chief export, and their entire economies are collapsing with the market. In Ethiopia, the government has lost twice as much revenue to the coffee market as it has received through debt relief. The repercussions of this crisis will last for decades, holding back efforts around the world to help developing countries move out of poverty."
Emmy Coffee said…
Sent an email!
(Check your email!)
1
Emmy Coffee said…
Sent an email!
(Check your email!)
2
Emmy Coffee said…
Sent an email!
(Check your email!)
3
Emmy Coffee said…
Sent an email!
(Check your email!)
5
Emmy Coffee said…
I like you on facebook (@emmy coffee)
Emmy Coffee said…
I'm following through Networked Blogs (@emmy coffee)
Emmy Coffee said…
I'm following you on Twitter (@emmycoffee)
Emmy Coffee said…
Following on Networked Blogs (@emmy coffee)
2
Emmy Coffee said…
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/emmycoffee/status/29114376049
Lisa D said…
I'm a public gfc follower. I learned Coffee is a shade-loving shrub. Very cool.
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
Lisa D said…
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Lisa D said…
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Lisa D said…
I follow you on networked blogs
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 1
Lisa D said…
Tweet
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Lisa D said…
email subscriber
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comment 1
Lisa D said…
email subscriber
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comment 2
Lisa D said…
Rated you 5 stars on alexa
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 1
Lisa D said…
Rated you 5 stars on alexa
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 2
Lisa D said…
Voted - top mommy blogs
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
Lisa D said…
Voted - top mommy blogs
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 2
Lisa D said…
Voted - top baby blogs
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 1
Lisa D said…
Voted - top baby blogs
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 2
Lisa D said…
Voted - on the fence
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 1
Lisa D said…
Voted - on the fence
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 2
Lisa D said…
Your new button is on my blog
www.my2centsfl.com
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 1
Lisa D said…
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comment 2
Lisa D said…
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duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 3
Lisa D said…
Entered Pillsbury giveaway
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
Lisa D said…
Entered Pillsbury giveaway
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comment 2
bison61 said…
they are the first coffee roaster in the country to complete the rigorous third-party certification process necessary to obtain the CarbonFree Certified Product label

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
rah267 said…
Fund Raising

Grounds for Change is proud to offer a unique coffee fundraiser with our Fair Trade, Organic coffee that is sure to be profitable and easy to implement. This is a fundraiser that you can use on a regular basis, even with the same people that have purchased from you in the past.
ky2here said…
GFC follower kycouple2000. Here's something about them that is not in your review:

In November 2001, 1% For The Planet held an official launch event at the Patagonia, Inc. store in San Francisco, California, during which twenty-one businesses signed up as members.

ky2here at msn dot com
ky2here said…
New twitter follower ky2here1.

ky2here at msn dot com
ky2here said…
Will tweet for joe: http://twitter.com/#!/ky2here1/status/29311921533

ky2here at msn dot com
Unknown said…
I learned they have a good variety of Fair Trade Organic Coffee Gifts sets at very resonable prices. This would be a good gift for Christmas.

abstractrose at yahoo dot com
Anonymous said…
They have chocolate bars and hot chocolate!

edgenemmers@gmail.com
Kate said…
I never knew that coffee is a shade-loving shrub! Really interesting!

strycker@slu.edu
~JEWEL~ said…
Grounds For Change CarbonFree® Certified Coffee


In a continuing effort to make every aspect of our business sustainable, we have partnered with Carbonfund.org to offset 100% of the global warming emissions associated with our coffee. We are the first coffee roaster in the country to complete the rigorous third-party certification process necessary to obtain the CarbonFree® Certified Product label
~JEWEL~ said…
i Follow you on Twitter (@nankani)
~JEWEL~ said…
i Follow me on Facebook and posted your giveaway on my profile !
~JEWEL~ said…
#1 i Follow you on Facebook Networked Blogs
~JEWEL~ said…
#2
i Follow you on Facebook Networked Blogs
~JEWEL~ said…
my tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/Nankani/statuses/29349642718
Valancia said…
I am a public follower. They have a coffee of the month it says.

skyxsky27(at)gmail.com
Valancia said…
I Follow youex on Twitter
Valancia said…
I Follow u on Facebook
Valancia said…
#1 I'm following you through networked blogs.
Valancia said…
#2 I'm following you through networked blogs.
Valancia said…
I voted for u on Top Mommy Blogs #1
Valancia said…
I voted for u on Top Mommy Blogs #2
Valancia said…
I voted for u on Top baby Blogs #1
Valancia said…
I Signed up for "Going Green with Noah e-newsletter" #1
Valancia said…
I Signed up for "Going Green with Noah e-newsletter" #2
mail4rosey said…
Shade grown coffee shrubs live twice as long and the shade trees generate natural mulch, which means less replanting and less need for chemical fertilizers.

I follow (mail4rosey).

msurosey@yahoo.com
sarah matos said…
I learned that they recycle all of their burlap coffee bags

smatos04@hotmail.com
sarah matos said…
I subscribe to your newsletter via email #1

smatos04@hotmail.com
sarah matos said…
I subscribe to your newsletter via email #2

smatos04@hotmail.com
susansmoaks said…
i love that they have

New Guinea
Yelia

susansmoaks at gmail dot com
Unknown said…
I follow via Google Friend Connect. They are the first coffee roaster in the country to complete the rigorous third-party certification process necessary to obtain the CarbonFree Certified Process Label. garrettsambo@aol.com
Susan said…
I learned that Coffee is a shade-loving shrub. interesting. suelee1998 @ gmail.com

I follow your blog via gfc
Judy B. said…
I am a public GFC follower. I learned that Grounds for Change offers annual memberships for discounts.
Judy B. said…
I emailed sponsor at info@groundsforchange.com and sent a bcc to you
1
Judy B. said…
Follow you on twitter as BBirdie2
Judy B. said…
Liked you on FB as Judith B.
Judy B. said…
Networked Blogs follower as Judith B
1
Judy B. said…
Networked Blogs follower
2
Judy B. said…
Voted Top Mommy today
1
Judy B. said…
Voted Top Mommy today
2
dvice12 said…
I follow. I like that they help support the Nevada Wilderness Project.
Judy B. said…
Voted Top Baby today
1
Judy B. said…
Voted Top Baby today
2
dvice12 said…
I follow you on twitter (dvice1)
Judy B. said…
Have your button
3
dvice12 said…
Here's my tweet - http://twitter.com/dvice1/status/29391840919
Judy B. said…
Entered Old El Paso
1
Judy B. said…
Entered Old El Paso
2
HomemadeBaby said…
I read about the "coffee crisis" and how communities around the world are not being compensated enough for their coffee harvests.
marysa at marysa dot com
HomemadeBaby said…
I follow you on Twitter (Marysa1)
Marysa {at} marysa {dot} com
HomemadeBaby said…
I am a facebook fan of your blog.
Marysa N - Marysa {at} marysa {dot} com
HomemadeBaby said…
I follow your blog via Networked Blogs.
Marysa N - homemadebaby
Marysa {at} marysa {dot} com
entry 1
HomemadeBaby said…
I follow your blog via Networked Blogs.
Marysa N - homemadebaby
Marysa {at} marysa {dot} com
entry 2
HomemadeBaby said…
I am an e-mail subscriber
Marysa {at} marysa {dot} com
Entry 1
HomemadeBaby said…
I am an e-mail subscriber
Marysa {at} marysa {dot} com
Entry 2
HomemadeBaby said…
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I voted for “Going Green with Noah” on Top Baby Blogs!
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entry 1
HomemadeBaby said…
I voted for “Going Green with Noah” on Top Baby Blogs!
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HomemadeBaby said…
I voted for “Going Green with Noah” On the Fence!
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entry 1
HomemadeBaby said…
I voted for “Going Green with Noah” On the Fence!
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entry 2
Sand said…
Grounds for Change is proud to be a member of 1% For The Planet. We donate one percent of our total sales to the following environmental organizations in support of their missions.

Northwest Shade Coffee Campaign
The Northwest Shade Coffee Campaign's mission is "to protect habitat for wintering neo-tropical migratory birds in Latin America and the Caribbean by increasing consumer demand for shade grown coffee. In cooperation with coffee importers and roasters, the Northwest Shade Coffee Campaign hopes to build a viable market for shade grown coffee."
Lisa D said…
Daily tweet
http://twitter.com/My2CentsFL/status/29427882315
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
Lisa D said…
Voted - Top Mommy Blogs
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 1
Lisa D said…
Voted - Top Mommy Blogs
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 2
Lisa D said…
Voted - Top Baby Blogs
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 1
Lisa D said…
Voted - Top Baby Blogs
duncan.lisa at gmail.com
comment 2
Lisa D said…
Voted - We're on the fence
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comment 2
Unknown said…
Grounds for Change sales a wide range of product including COFFEE MUGS & MORE.
heartnsoulcooking[at]gmail[dot]com
Unknown said…
Follow GoingGreenwNoah on twitter
heartnsoulcooking[at]gmail[dot]com
Unknown said…
LIKE Going Green with Noah on FB
heartnsoulcooking[at]gmail[dot]com
Unknown said…
#1 - Follow via Networked Blogs
heartnsoulcooking[at]gmail[dot]com
Unknown said…
Tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/Gerisandoval/status/29434865943
heartnsoulcooking[at]gmail[dot]com

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