How the Kingdom Growers Cooperative works

How does Kingdom Growers coffee get from farm to cup? How do we ensure that farmers get paid fairly? And how many times must the beans change hands before they reach your kitchen shelf?Kingdom Growers Cooperative uses a direct trade model to move coffee from grower to consumer. As opposed to the Fair Trade model, which is regulated by an overarching organization, direct trade is essentially an agreement between a farmer and a roaster. The farmer grows a crop, which the Specialty Coffee Association of America then assesses and rates. Based on that rating, roasters work with the farmer to determine a price. When roasters sell coffee to stores and consumers, they must reveal what they paid for the beans.Direct Trade encourages farmers to grow small batches of high-quality coffee, since the quality determines price. Because they take such care with their crops, Kingdom Growers farmers also develop pride and dignity as they watch their plants grow. They gain confidence in their farming skill.But, one of the biggest reasons we support direct trade, is because it eliminates middlemen. Our coffee doesn’t travel from grower to exporter to importer to roaster, etc. The farmers send it to the roasters, who send it to you. With Kingdom Growers Coffee, the coffee in your cup comes straight from the farm.