Rogers Estate Coffees Pledges to Continue its Coffee Community Aid Program Despite Possible Global Coffee Price Increase

BRACKNELL, England, January 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Coffee bean (http://www.rogersestatecoffees.co.uk ) prices are set to rise after what was deemed the worst harvest in 35 years by the International Coffee Organisation (ICO). Both Colombia and Brazil, the world's leading coffee producing countries, have experienced a poor crop in the last year.

In Colombia, this year's harvest was the worst since 1974, due to bad weather, and was the third straight off-year. The ICO predicts that the coffee for the next crop year, beginning September 30, could fall well short of the 9.5 million bags predicted.

Bloomberg news reported that the price of coffee has already increased in New York and there are speculations of a similar effect to the global coffee market. "Premiums are bound to increase," ICO Executive Director Nestor Osorio told Bloomberg on Friday.

Rogers Estate Coffees the UK subsidiary of the family-owned Rogers Family Company (http://www.rogersfamilyco.com) pledged that there will not be any reduction in its 'Community Aid' program which ensures that coffee farmers are always treated fairly, paid enough to make a reasonable profit and works with them to protect native plants, rainforest and wildlife. The Rogers Family Co. supplies its "Fairly Traded" gourmet coffee (http://www.rogersestatecoffees.co.uk) products to discriminating customers worldwide.

Jon Rogers, President of The Rogers Family Company, said, "regardless of any rise in coffee prices, which may come into effect in the future, we will continue to uphold our values of being fairly traded and pay our coffee farmers and workers the amount they deserve".

The Fairly Traded and Community Aid programs employ a different approach than other roasters to address the socio-economic and environmental challenges in coffee growing regions. One difference is that the company pays farmers more than the average market price - thereby exceeding labeling organisations' standards - to ensure a farm's long-term viability. Unlike other programs, the Rogers Family Co. ensures that all Community Aid funds go only to farmers, workers and their families for social or environmental projects.

From its inaugural modest project - supplying pencils and paper to a struggling school - Community Aid now turns the company's Fairly Traded coffee into houses, schools, medicals clinics and food while focusing on education to break the cycle of poverty at farms in 10 countries. Once described by a reporter as a "mini-Peace Corps," Community Aid program starts with paying farmers enough to ensure they meet the cost of production and then its contribution to the farm goes up.

"Community Aid" has completed hundreds of social and environmental projects, including modern houses as well as medical facilities, schools and day care centers for thousands of coffee farm workers and their families. Community Aid also provides permanent educational programs and scholarships, doctors, nurses, teachers, food and clothing, clean drinking water and energy systems and also protects native plants and animals including endangered species.

To read more about Rogers Estate Coffees Community Aid visit: http://www.rogersestatecoffees.co.uk/cremapress/2010/01/coffee_price

About Rogers Estate Coffees

Rogers Estate Coffees is a UK subsidiary of Rogers Family Coffee Co., one of the largest family owned coffee roasters in the USA. The company prides itself on its Community Aid projects and the premium quality of its coffees. Their green coffee beans come from small coffee estates and farms as well as from their own farms in Panama. Visit http://www.rogersestatecoffees.co.uk/ to find out more.

Press Information

For further information on Rogers Estate Coffees, its products and services please contact Peter Warden, Rogers Estate Coffees (UK) Ltd, Venture House, Arlington Square, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1WA

Tel: +44-1344-742-821 Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Rogers Estate Coffees