From Haiti, a Coffee With a Mission

By: - March 14th, 2012

Above: Haiti (UN Photo/Logan Abassi)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

A new coffee company heading to the United States is looking to do its part to help Haitian famers.

Par Haiti/Pour Haiti (“From Haiti for Haiti”), the brainchild of Michael Pereira, uses hand-roasted coffee made of 100 percent Haitian Arabica beans, with dollars generated by coffee sales helping to increase income for Haitian farmers.

“The Haitian people want their labours to mean something, and they want to be self-sustaining,” said Pereira, who is the CEO of Haiti Originale, which is pushing a range of Haitian-made products, from coffee to rum. “Par Haiti/Pour Haiti is the first product to support our cause of promoting sustainable development in Haiti.”

The first US distribution will occur at Whole Foods Market locations in Florida.

“This is the first of many products and programmes to promote Haitian products under the Par Haiti/Pour Haiti banner,” he said.

The coffee is shade-grown at high altitudes in Haiti, with each harvest hand-picked and dried by Haitians.

The company’s programme is extending to a host of categories, including cocoa, produce and apparel.

Haiti

Panama Begins Computer Distribution Project, Continuing Caribbean-Wide Trend

Above: President Ricardo Martinelli launching the programme (Photo: OP) By the Caribbean Journal staff Continuing a trend that has made its way across the Caribbean, from Antigua to Guyana, the government of Panama has delivered the first computers to families as part of its Digital Inclusion programme. The first installment of the project on Tuesday […]

Haiti

Montserrat Premier Reuben Meade: "No Doubt About Future of CARICOM"

Above: Montserrat Premier Reuben Meade By the Caribbean Journal staff There is “no doubt about the future of the Caribbean Community,” according to Montserrat Premier Reuben Meade, who was speaking following his visit to the Heads of Government meeting in Paramaribo last week. The Premier said the meetings in Suriname were “very positive,” and that […]

Haiti

Jamaica Looks to "Level the Playing Field" For Technology Access

Above: Minister Phillip Paulwell at Northern Caribbean University (JIS Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The Jamaican government is committed to ensuring that all Jamaicans have full and equal access to technology, according to Science and Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell. “This government is committed to leveling the playing field for all Jamaicans,” he said. “We […]

BBVA Panama Gets $25 Million to Expand Lending for Small Businesses

Above: Panama City By the Caribbean Journal staff Banco BBVA Panama today signed an agreement with the IFC to provide $25 million to the bank to support its efforts to expand lending to farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises. SMEs account for 80 percent of Panama’s total employment, according to the IFC, which is a […]

OAS Secretary General Holds Talks with United States Trade Official

Above: US Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sanchez and OAS SG Jose Miguel Insulza (Photo: OAS) By the Caribbean Journal staff OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza held talks Tuesday with Francisco Sanchez, the United States Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade. Sanchez was participating at the Private Sector Forum Dialogue “Connecting Companies, […]

CARICOM Launches Consumer Protection System for Hazardous Products

Above: Panama City By the Caribbean Journal staff Banco BBVA Panama today signed an agreement with the IFC to provide $25 million to the bank to support its efforts to expand lending to farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises. SMEs account for 80 percent of Panama’s total employment, according to the IFC, which is a […]

Guyana Begins Laying Cable for China-Financed Power Programme

Above: Guyana President Donald Ramotar speaking to Parliament By the Caribbean Journal staff Guyana Power & Light is set to begin laying the submarine cable to improve the power supply to the country’s West Demerara area, part of a $42 million infrastructural development programme. The cable, which will be laid from the West Demerara section […]