WATERBURY, VERMONT (July 21, 2009) – High water levels from heavy rains have caused Green Mountain Coffee® to postpone its annual participation in National River Cleanup. The week-long effort will now take place August 10-14, 2009.
This is the fifth year the Green Mountain Coffee brand has sponsored American Rivers’ National River Cleanup™, a nationwide effort to keep America’s waterways clean. Employee volunteers will use paid time off to pick up litter in and around a 5-mile stretch of the Winooski, from the Middlesex Dam to the Bolton Dam and beyond. They will use canoes donated by Umiak Outdoor Outfitters in Stowe to reach trash that is submerged.
“By rescheduling this event, we’re hoping to take advantage of better weather and lower water levels on the river,” says Paul Comey, Vice President of Environmental Affairs for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. “A clear, slower flowing river will ensure the safety of our employee volunteers and make our cleanup efforts more effective.”
Last year, heavy summer rains caused employees to shift their focus from the Winooski River to the Little River State Park and the nearby village of Hancock, where they helped families recover from extensive flood damage.
National River Cleanup is part of the Company’s Community Action For Employees (CAFESM) Program, which allows employees to spend up to 52 hours per year volunteering for nonprofit and community-based organizations during normal work hours. In fiscal 2008, employees volunteered 6,208 hours in total, a record for the Company.
National River Cleanup is considered the most successful stream cleanup program in the country. Since its inception in 1991, more than 600,000 volunteers have participated in thousands of cleanups across the country, covering more than 100,000 miles of waterways. For more information or to find a cleanup near you, please visit www.AmericanRivers.org/cleanup.
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.
About Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR)
As a leader in the specialty coffee industry, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) 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, www.GMCR.com and www.Keurig.com for more information.
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