WATERBURY, VERMONT (October 21, 2009) – How does a nice sea urchin cappuccino sound? Or pork tenderloin and coffee-sunchoke gravy? Attendees at celebrity chef cook-off “Eat, Drink and Be Fair” will be the first to find out as these and other delicacies are debuted as part of a push to make Boston one of the largest Fair Trade Towns in the U.S.
Hosted by Green Mountain Coffeeâ, part of the Specialty Coffee Business Unit of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR), “Eat, Drink and Be Fair” will pit some of the area’s most inventive culinary wizards head-to-head as part of a series of events celebrating Fair Trade Month. The event aims to educate guests on the importance of Fair Trade and the impact it can have on people and the planet.
“More consumers want to know where their food comes from and that it was grown in a socially and environmentally responsible way. Fair Trade provides an opportunity for people to act on these values when choosing foods that are not grown locally – like coffee,” said Sandy Yusen, Director of Public Relations for GMCR’s Specialty Coffee Business Unit. “Fair Trade encourages economic independence for small-scale farmers by providing a fair price for their products. When you buy Fair Trade, you really are making a difference.”
“Eat, Drink & Be Fair” will take place on Wednesday, October 21 from 6:30-9:30 p.m., at the Artists for Humanity Epicenter, Boston’s first LEED-certified building. The event, which is by invitation only, will support TransFair USA and the Boston Faith & Justice Network in their efforts to make Boston a Fair Trade Town in 2010.
Meet the Chefs
Each chef will be challenged to create a unique dish featuring Fair Trade Certified™ ingredients, such as honey, sugar, cocoa, coffee, bananas and more. They’ll be combining creativity, sustainability and seldom-paired flavors. Competing chefs include:
· Chef Richard Garcia, Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro (Foxboro at Patriot Place)
Learn how to prep local and live sea urchin from Chef Garcia.
· Chef Jay Silva, Bambara (Cambridge)
· Chef Will Gilson, Garden at the Cellar (Cambridge)
Watch tips on sourcing the finest in fresh & fair foods from Chef Gilson
· Chef Peter McCarthy, EVOO (Cambridge)
Take the Fair Trade Pledge
This October, Green Mountain Coffee is calling on Bostonians to take the BE FAIR pledge, a promise to choose Fair Trade Certified™ products whenever possible. Fair Trade provides a fair price for farmers which leads to higher living standards, healthier communities, more sustainable farming practices, and higher quality products.
Green Mountain Coffee is hoping 5,000 people in Massachusetts, and others across the country, will pledge during October’s Fair Trade Month. Individuals can take the pledge by visiting www.eatdrinkandbefair.com.
BOSTON—THE NEXT FAIR TRADE TOWN
Boston is on track to become the largest East Coast Fair Trade city in the United States. In order to become a Fair Trade city, Fair Trade products must be widely used in local schools, workplaces and businesses, and the city must pass a resolution supporting Fair Trade. For a full guide on Boston’s quest and how you can help, visit www.eatdrinkandbefair.com/fair_trade_towns.php.
TAKE GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE’S FAIR TRADE QUIZ
Green Mountain Coffee is also hosting a month-long Fair Trade quiz at www.eatdrinkandbefair.com/quiz, with a different question about Fair Trade posted each day. Respondents will have the chance to receive free samples of Fair Trade coffee and enter a raffle for a year’s supply of Fair Trade coffee.
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 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.
###