Vermont Coffee Roasters

 

Below is an except from Partners In Health around their and sister organization Compañeros En Salud (CES) work in southeast Chiapas. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc, (GMCR) is funding this project to revitalize a primary health care system in the long-neglected region.

" “I didn’t know what to expect,” Dr. Abelardo Vidaurreta says. “I didn’t know where I was going.”

Such uncertainties were rare for the 27 year old. But after finishing medical school at Tecnológico De Monterrey, an elite university that produces some of Mexico’s finest physicians, Vidaurreta ditched the urban commodities he was accustomed to and went to work with Partners In Health’s sister organization Compañeros En Salud (CES) in southeast Chiapas. It’s among the poorest and most isolated regions in Mexico, nestled at the tip of the country along the Guatemalan border. 

The move wasn’t entirely impulsive. In Mexico, newly graduated medical students are required to spend a year working in a public health clinic to earn their professional license. Often they’re assigned to far-flung outposts with few resources and even less oversight. This baptism-by-fire approach can be overwhelming. It can also be frustrating, especially for the community members who are left seeking medical care from a rotating cast of fresh-faced doctors who’ll stick around for only a year. 

Vidaurreta had heard of CES when his social service year arrived, but he didn’t know much about the group, let alone its plans to revitalize a primary health care system in a long-neglected region. Doubts loomed when he agreed last February to be among the first doctors to spend a year working alongside CES in Chiapas.

“I thought I was going into the jungle,” Vidaurreta says. “I thought I was going to be alone.”

Now, as CES—whose work is supported by Vermont-based Green Mountain Coffee Roasters—celebrates its first anniversary and more than 10,000 patient consultations, Vidaurreta jokes that he was wrong on both counts. The landscape is more Martian than jungle, marked by towering mountains and a startling lack of infrastructure. And while he would encounter countless challenges in the field, he wasn’t going to be tackling them alone.  A core mission of CES is to alleviate that daunting sense of solitude by pairing the new doctors, known as pasantes, with resident physicians from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. 

“They’re doing all the work,” says Dr. Patrick Newman, 29, one of the first resident physicians from Brigham and Women’s to take part in the program. “But we see their consults with them, answer their questions, help guide their thinking, help to challenge their thinking, and encourage their ongoing growth.” Newman is quick to point out that the exchange of insight flows both ways. For instance, he recalls visiting a family whose newborn had a cleft palate. His instinct was to hospitalize the baby, insert a feeding tube, and perform surgery when the child reached an appropriate weight—standard procedure in the U.S. 

“That was my first suggestion. But it was obvious after talking with the pasante and visiting the family that doing so would result in absolute and total financial ruin for the family,” Newman says.  “You have to understand that there are cultural aspects to care that the pasantes are going to understand better than we ever will.”

In the area where CES works, patients might travel more than an hour for a simple blood test. Getting to a hospital could take half a day. And though there are brick-and-mortar clinics, it’s been years in most cases since a full-fledged physician has staffed one. To make sure the pasantes are equipped to provide the best possible care in this difficult setting, they receive monthly visits from CES staff and attend regular workshops.In the area where CES works, patients might travel more than an hour for a simple blood test. Getting to a hospital could take half a day. And though there are brick-and-mortar clinics, it’s been years in most cases since a full-fledged physician has staffed one. To make sure the pasantes are equipped to provide the best possible care in this difficult setting, they receive monthly visits from CES staff and attend regular workshops."

To read the full article with images, visit Partners In Health's website. 

At the Green Mountain Coffee® Café and Visitor Center we enjoy sharing experiences with the community.  Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. provides employees an opportunity to visit coffee growing communities on source trips. This gives us the chance to see where the process of tree to cup begins and meet the farmers who produce the very same coffee we roast everyday.

In December, my coworker Michele was given the opportunity to go to Nicaragua with fellow employees in the company, including east coast to west coast American and Canadian teammates.  Not only did she have the chance to meet and create bonds with the farmers who influence our lives even here in Vermont, but she had the chance to get to know people within the company she may not have had a chance to meet otherwise.

In February two of our coworkers, Christiane and Joshua, had the chance to travel with members of the International Woman’s Coffee Alliance to Guatemala. The International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) strives to create a difference in the world of coffee. With a mission to “empower women in the international coffee community to achieve meaningful and sustainable lives; and to encourage and recognize the participation of women in all aspects of the coffee industry,” the IWCA, from its inception, has remained focused on promoting possibilities for women in coffee communities throughout the world.  

After our trips to our coffee growing regions we, as a whole department in the Green Mountain Coffee Café and Visitor Center, found a deep respect for the people in our supply chain. We created long lasting bonds with our coffee growing communities and our international team members who keep this company running strong.  The in-depth opportunity to see and experience the tree to cup experience and have the chance to share with our community has given a life changing view of the coffee sitting in our cups.

 

Today, we honor those who have served in our military. 

Veteran's Day is a day when Americans pay tribute to those who who have served.

 

Here at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. we too honor our soldiers. As I’m sure many of you have heard from service men and women is the importance of coffee while in the field; especially good coffee. It is a comfort from home and a small luxury while on duty.

That is why we donate thousands of pounds of coffee to troops serving Afghanistan every year. We work with a great organization called Holy Joe’s Café, that provides coffee in a café setting at bases in Afghanistan. Soldiers can go to the cafés for spiritual guidance from the Chaplains, listen to music on open mic nights, or just enjoy a great cup of Green Mountain Coffee’s Dark Magic.

When our very own Vermont National Guard deployed to Afghanistan, we knew that the comforts from Vermont that they would miss would include maple syrup and Green Mountain Coffee. Again, working with Holy Joe’s Café, every Vermont National Guard Chaplain has received coffee which will find its way into the hands of the Green Mountain Boys.

Thank you Holy Joe’s for helping us make an impact in our soldiers’ lives as they make a sacrifice for us. 

Did you know next Saturday is National Coffee Day?  For us, that means this week is an invitation to embrace our java joy and revel in our roasts as we work up to the ultimate celebration.  So, what better way to start the work week than to sip Newman’s Own® Organics coffee with Nell Newman? 

Did we mention you’re invited, too?

Newman’s Own Organics has a lot of proud partners: Green Mountain Coffee® is proud to source and roast a line of world-changing, Fair Trade Certified™ coffees for our friends at Newman's Own Organics and New England McDonald’s are proud to serve this exceptional coffee every day in most of its restaurants.  So, we’re sharing that pride with fans who love this coffee with a live virtual tasting.

Here are the details:

 

• WHAT: Newman’s Own Organics Coffee Tasting with McDonalds; live and interactive!
• WHEN: This Monday, September 24, 2012, 10:00 to 10:30 AM EST
• WHO: You and Nell Newman, Lindsey Bolger, GMCR’s Senior Director of Coffee, and Wayne Lebrun and Lou Provenzano, owner/operators from McDonald’s in New England. 
• WHERE: From the comforts of your computer on Livestream.com/VermontLive for you; Live from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.’s Coffee Lounge, in Waterbury, Vermont for us

 

If you want to taste along with us, follow the conversation, or ask a question of the tasters, follow @McDEasternNE  and #McDCoffeeChat on Twitter.

 

Chat with you soon!

Volunteerism is an integral part of our Corporate Social Responsibility programs. Every full-time employee can take up to 52-hours of paid time-off to volunteer for an non-profit organization they are passionate about (learn more on how we support local communities).

A company tradition in Vermont has been to cleanup one of the nearby rivers as part of American River’s National River Cleanup. In Vermont, we’ve been organizing a River Cleanup on the Winooski River since 2005. As our volunteerism program has expanded to other employee locations, so has the tradition of an annual River Cleanup.

In early April, employees from our Knoxville, TN facility, with help from Ijams Nature Center (also a Green Mountain Coffee Roasters grant recipient) participated in their 3^rd annual River Rescue cleanup event on the Tennessee River. In total, 149 volunteers over the course of two days collected 452 bags of trash, 20 tires, 6 shopping carts, a conveyor belt, a bicycle, a gas tank, a metal “man” cut-out, rugs, ropes and numerous other items. The approximate weight of the bagged trash was approximately 8,100 lbs!

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. recently awarded Lake Champlain International (LCI) a grant to support LCI's continued work to protect the waters, fish, homes and businesses of Lake Champlain and the Winooski River. This grant is part of our Employee Community Grant program, which provides grants to organizations and projects that are located around our employee communities. Funded projects address specific issues aligned with environmental stewardship, strong local systems, and economic prosperity.

LCI's BLUE® program is an innovative community-based program to help reduce beach closures, decrease potentially toxic algae blooms, protect fish and wildlife, and improve the safety of homes, lawns, and driveways. LCI's

 BLUE® program has previously been offered to residents of the Vermont towns Colchester, Winooski, and Shelburne.

Through this grant, LCI's BLUE® program will be made available to residents of Waterbury, VT enabling Waterbury residents to reduce the amount of water pollution runoff that starts on their lawns and in their homes.

At no cost to the residents of Waterbury, LCI will offer brief and simple property evaluations to homeowners and owners of rental properties.  At the end of each evaluation, the homeowner can have their home certified as watershed friendly, or BLUE®, if they agree to follow a handful of simple practices.  Certifications are free of charge as well.    

Also available are mini-grants for homeowners of up to $200 per property for the first 30 participating properties to build and install water pollution prevention property improvements.  Improvements include rain gardens, rain barrels, gutters over driveways, downspout redirects, dripline trenches, and similar features.

"The grant from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. will help reduce water pollution far upstream the Winooski River and reduce toxins like lawn pesticides in the town and around homes" said Ross Saxton, LCI's Director of Conservation & Education.  "This is a terrific opportunity for Waterbury residents to help protect their river, community, and home values."

At Green Mountain Coffee Roasters,  Inc. (GMCR) we are dedicated to improving the sustainability and quality of life of the communities where GMCR employees live and work. We’re implementing Employee Community Grant Programs at all our locations. Each site will have their own granting focus – as each community has unique needs.  One of the focus areas for our Vermont Employee Community is clean water, healthy rivers, lakes and shorelines. The Intervale Conservation Nursery’s mission aligns directly with that focus .

The Nursery works to restore and conserve riparian zones to protect Vermont’s waterways and Lake Champlain from agricultural runoff and pollution. This past fall, the Vermont Employee Community Grant eam, reviewed and awarded the Intervale Conservation Nursery a grant. With this grant the Nursery will increase their outreach and complete two restoration projects along local rivers. Planting native trees and shrubs along a stream bank create buffers that help prevent pollution in rain runoff from entering rivers and lakes. Every time it rains, runoff collects pollutants from roads, cars, agricultural fields and other sources, and washes this unfiltered water into the waterways. The Intervale Conservation Nursery’s lantings help trap and filter sediment and pollution before it enters Vermont’s waterways. The first planting took place along the Winooski River in the Intervale Center itself. GMCR employee volunteers and Conservation Nursery staff planted over 50 container trees. This spring the Nursery and GMCR volunteers will plant an estimated 700 trees and shrubs along the Winooski River in Waterbury. In addition to these two restoration projects, the Nursery grows and provides locally-grown vegetation to conservation projects all over the state of Vermont. We’re proud to support the important work of protecting Vermont’s waterways.

Yesterday, Grounds for Health announced that they will be able to further develop their existing cervical cancer prevention programs in Nicaragua, Mexico, and Tanzania, and expand its program into Peru thanks to a three-year $900,000 grant from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. We've supported the Vermont-based non-profit through past grants as well as through the annual Grounds For Health Carwash. We're excited to continue to support Grounds For Health's efforts to establish sustainable and effective cervical cancer prevention and treatment programs in coffee-growing communities.

The announcement of this grant is particularly meaningful as January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. August Burns, the Executive Director of Grounds For Health says "It’s important to recognize that the greatest cancer killer of women in developing countries worldwide is cervical cancer, despite it being nearly 100% preventable".

“We are proud to contribute to Grounds for Health’s important work in coffee-growing communities,” says Colleen Bramhall, GMCR Coffee Community Outreach Manager. “The partnerships Grounds for Health forges with coffee cooperatives help break down barriers that stand between women and the care they need. We are proud of the accomplishments of our Waterbury neighbor and look forward to continuing our collaboration.” 

In the words of Fatima Ismael, cervical cancer survivor and general manager of the Soppexcca coffee cooperative, a long-time partner of both companies, “I think until my last breath, I will be eternally grateful for what [Grounds for Health] has done for us.” You can find out more information on Grounds for Health on their webpage, Facebook or Twitter.

Every year on the blog, we step back and give thanks.  Thanks for our families.  Thanks for our friends.  Thanks for the air we breathe and the coffee we drink.  We step back and think about the hard times and the triumphant times.  The silly and the delicious.  We take a moment to take a moment, and hope that you do the same with us.  So, without further ado, our thanks:

Laura: I am thankful to work with smart, passionate colleagues who care deeply about their work and the impact we have on the world around us.

Mike: Easy…I am more grateful than I could ever express for the presence of our little boy Zeke – a miracle baby born March 5^th, 2011.

John: I am thankful for so many things. I am thankful that my house did not experience any damage during Hurricane Irene, my heart goes out to the Vermonters that are still putting their lives back together. I am thankful for family and friends who offer their love and support.  I am thankful for my awesome job at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.; it is great to work with so many smart people who love coffee. I am thankful for my two dogs; they are old, fit and happy and keep me active.

Marybeth: I am thankful for a great cup of coffee (Guatemalan Finca Dos Marias Rocks!) on a sunny fall morning while sitting on my front porch watching the sun light up the sky. I am thankful for being a part of a company that cares – cares about the people who work here, our consumers, and the environment. I am thankful that as our sales grow so does the 5% we donate to local and global causes.

Roger: Have you ever had one of those moments of wonder? The kinds when the whole world seems to slow down just long enough for you to appreciate it. And then for that instant, that single speck in time, nothing else matters – no stress, no worry, no frets. The other day when I was walking to work I had one of those moments. It was a beautiful morning and the sun was dancing on the autumnally punctuated mountains that surround us. The air was crisp but not cold. The colors of the sky, the clouds, and the hillsides were spot on. Even the birds’ songs seemed to lilt just a bit brighter, carrying on the breeze just a second longer than the physics of sound would normally allow. The moment literally stopped me in my tracks. I chuckled to myself while taking it all in. Those moments, those quick, personal mental group hugs with the universe, those simple distillations of time and purpose and place, that’s what I’m thankful for….

Mary Beth J.: I am new to Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. this year and have found that I have a lot that I am thankful for:

• Bringing my personal passion into work each day


• New opportunities and experiences


• A new appreciation for the coffee industry and an endless supply of caffeine


• Having coworkers who patiently waited while I got back on my feet, literally, and cheered me on along the way after having only known me for a few weeks

Colleen: I am thankful that I trusted my heart and moved from New York City to Vermont!  Now I have a fiancé that I adore, a dream job at a company I admire, and a world of outdoor adventures at my doorstep!

Jen:  I am thankful for my awesome network of friends who never fail to support me and keep me going!  And that Donovan McNabb is no longer the starting quarterback for the Vikings! ;)

Derek: I am thankful for many things, but among them: I am thankful that great, interesting music is still being made today.  I’m thankful that the Flatlander Barbecue team didn’t fall flat on our face during our first year of competitive barbecue.  I’m thankful to work for a company with so many opportunities and to have the ability to work on such an amazing brand.  And I’m thankful that my wife and I get to live in the beautiful state of Vermont – more often than not, my morning commute is just breathtaking.

Kristen:  It’s been one of those years, folks.  You know: The kind of year that brings just as many challenges as it does rewards?  But man, are those rewards all the sweeter because of the hurdles it took to get them.  And those rewards are: Superior coworkers – the kind that will deal with you reverse trick-or-treating around campus in costume or frolicking down the halls of Cubeland; loving family – those that will pick you up at the airport after an event so late in the night it’s early in the morning; and hilarious, dedicated friends – the ones that roll their eyes when you tell them they’re all getting coffee for Christmas for year number three and then merrily chug every morsel of caffeinated goodness.

Tom:  My family lore has it that we're descended from the pilgrims John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley. Howland was swept off the deck of the Mayflower in a storm -- but saved by a rope thrown overboard. So I'm definitely thankful for that rescue. Otherwise I wouldn't even be here! (I am also secretly grateful for the cranberry sauce shaped just like the can it comes out of. With three kids, there's always some of that on our Thanksgiving table, alongside the more wholesome, natural whole-berry stuff.)

Doug: I'm thankful for wool socks, the heavy kind, all sheepy soft on the inside and thick enough to ward off evening chills. I'm thankful for autumn bonfires, and friends to share them with. Marshmallows, toasted just so. And I'm exceptionally thankful for a job with an amazing company that has in so many ways exceeded my expectations about what a group of committed people can do. I mean — it's a job, right? In this economy that's enough, and it affords me many of the other things I'm thankful for. But working here has enriched me as a human being, too. Who'd have expected that? So, thanks. And don't forget… wool socks: awesome.

What are you thankful for this year?

When I first started working at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., I, like all our employees, attended Coffee College.  Although I’d been drinking coffee for a few years, the only knowledge I had of it was that it contained caffeine and tasted delicious. Embarrassingly, I was one of many (I know you’re out there!) who thought that Green Mountain Coffee was actually grown in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Coffee College taught me that no, coffee cannot grow in Vermont but also taught me to appreciate the flavor of coffee.

The first coffee that I truly tasted was our Single Origin, Fair Trade Kenyan Highland Cooperative. Under instruction from our “Coffee Professor” Tina, I took the time to observe the way the beverage transformed from first sip to swallow. How when the Kenya first hits your taste buds it bursts with a light, berry-like flavor but then transforms to a sugary smooth wine-like taste by the time you’ve finished your sip. The complexity, yet still coffee-taste of the coffee is a remarkable thing to experience. It makes me understand the value of the soil, sun and farmers that made this coffee possible.

Update 9/15/2011 - We're getting really excited for the relief show tomorrow night and to help spread the word our friends at Select Design created this great event flyer! There are going to be some fabulous raffle prizes as well as some food samples from Vermont Companies!

9/8/2011 - As you know, communities around Vermont – and many of our friends and coworkers – continue to recover from the aftermath of tropical storm Irene.   We’ve all been searching for ways to help, to do more where there’s need and to support organizations that can reach people and places we cannot.

That’s why on Friday, September 16, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. and other Vermont businesses will be hosting an Irene Flood Relief concert at Higher Ground in Burlington.

The concert features energetic afro-indie pop band Rubblebucket, returning to Vermont for one last 2011 concert to help the Vermont community, and Latin jazz and salsa dance band Ritmo Masacote.

In addition, the event will spotlight the companies and nonprofit organizations who have been involved in the relief efforts.

Tickets are $10 each, with proceeds benefitting the Vermont Foodbank.  Tickets are now on sale -- please click here to purchase tickets.

ETA: Can’t make it to Vermont for the event?  We’ll miss you, but you can still donate by texting FOODNOW to 52000 to donate $10 to Vermont Foodbank.

This week marks our 7^th annual River Cleanup, and in my opinion it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Living in Vermont, you grow used to the Spring Thaw, the inevitable “mud season” and roaring brooks that go along with the snow melt (and it always is a lot of snow that is melting). This year’s Spring Thaw turned into Spring floods though, and devastated many parts of our state. Not only were people’s everyday lives affected by these events, but our fragile ecosystem was as well. From dumpsters disappearing in Barre, to entire docks floating into the depths of Lake Champlain, our waterways have become more polluted than ever.

All this week, Green Mountain Coffee Roaster’s employees will be helping to clean parts of the Winooski River as a sponsor and participate in American River’s National River Cleanup™, a nationwide effort to help keep America’s waterways clean. For the last seven years, employees have dedicated a portion of their work week through our CAFE Time volunteer program to clean up our local waterways, pulling things such as bikes and loveseats out of the Winooski.

Today’s efforts have already seen six shopping carts and a newspaper stand pulled out of a section of the river running past Montpelier High School. While it’s sad to see all the trash accumulating in our waterways, by flood or by littering, it’s refreshing knowing that people are truly dedicated to fixing this – in fact, river cleanup is one of our most popular volunteer efforts. Last year alone over 150 people helped to clean up.

River Cleanup isn’t just an issue of how many tires are pulled out of the river in a week (though employees managed to remove over 130 last year) – clean water is an important resource for everyone. It’s essential to life, good health, and to the quality cups of coffee many of us rely on in the mornings. For 20 years now, American River’s has dedicated time and resources to connecting people with their local rivers and streams, and encouraged river cleanup efforts such as this one. In fact, since National River Cleanup’s launch in 1991, more than 960,000 volunteers have participated in these programs. Volunteers have removed more than 10 million pounds of litter and debris from rivers and streams, like our local Winooski.

Over the course of the week, we will continue cleaning along the river, in the places that need it most. We know we can’t reverse this spring flooding’s effects in a week alone, or change America’s river littering habits overnight, but participating in the River Cleanup event continues to inspire us, and hopefully our community too, to care for our waterways, and to strive to keep them clean.

-Molly (PR intern extraordinaire - according to Kristen :))

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has a passion for rivers. Our office headquarters in Vermont are located less than a mile from the beautiful Winooski River. Each summer employees at sites in Vermont, Tennessee and Massachusetts take to the rivers to remove trash from the waters and surrounding banks. Contributing to clean rivers and waterways has been a long-time passion for GMCR employees. And for more than five years we've sponsored American Rivers’ National River Cleanup^TM program, which helps people across the country locate and participate in local river cleanups. American Rivers, founded in 1973, is dedicated to protecting and restoring the nation’s rivers.

Each year, they release the list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers^TM. The list isn’t about the “worst” or most polluted rivers, but it highlights rivers whose overall health faces an urgent threat. The ten rivers named as America’s Most Endangered Rivers^TM of 2011 focus on an issue of concern to all Americans: clean water.

We wanted to share the list with you so you can see what these rivers are up against. We hope that the power of America’s Most Endangered Rivers^TM report will spur many successes.

Read more about the rivers at on the America’s Most Endangered Rivers^TM webpage as well as all of American Rivers' work.  Green Mountain is proud to be a long-time partner with American Rivers in the fight to save our nation’s greatest assets.

The Visitor Center is located right in the middle of town and is a welcoming spot not only for guests from outside Vermont, but also for many locals.  Green Mountain Coffee has been a part of the Waterbury community for nearly 30-years, with the Visitor Center celebrating 5-years in the community this coming fall.  Community is a big piece of what we do on a corporate level, but also on the local level.  Integrating the Visitor Center into what is happening locally is very important to me, as a life long resident of Waterbury and as an employee.

On May 13th, at 5:30 p.m. the Visitor Center will host, in conjunction with Harwood Union High School., A Journey to Rwanda: Stories of Hope. Rwanda is a very special place to us:  Today, after years of a brutal civil war, a partnership of growers, roasters and governments is producing exceptionally fine coffee (some of which is in our Fair Trade Spring Revival™ Blend), and allow us all to join in supporting Rwanda’s economic revival and small farmers who are producing extraordinary beans.

Harwood Union High School ,our local high school, has been sending students to Rwanda for the past 7-years in an effort to understand the Rwandan culture and people while creating life changing experiences and long term relationships.  Students participate in a variety of service learning projects and this event gives them the opportunity to share their experiences with the greater community.  While in Rwanda students visit a variety of venues such as schools, craft cooperatives, and coffee farms to name just a few.

I'm proud to be part of a company encourages its employees to find ways of giving back to the community.

You can watch an audio-show produced by one Harwood student as a part of her role in the Rwandan Project here

Whenever I tell someone I work at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR), I always get the response “Ohh – they’re supposed to a great place to work!” And I always agree with them; GMCR is a great place to work. In fact, on Monday, March 28th 2011 we were honored as one the best places to work in Vermont! Among others, recipients included small companies like HUBER+SUHNER, Inc and large companies like Mascoma Savings Bank.

To determine these awards, the Best Companies Group assesses both the Employee Benefits and Policies as well as conducting an employee survey at each participating company.

So what makes GMCR a great place to work? For many folks, they say it is working for a company that gives back. Although not all of our jobs directly relate to Corporate Social Responsibility, working for a company that is creating positive change in the world is inspiring. We also support employees’ passion and inspiration through our company volunteer program (CAFE), which provides employees with 52-hours of paid time-off to volunteer at organizations of their choice. Our matching donation program matches 100% of employees’ cash donations to non-profits up to $1000.00 per year.

Other employees value our commitment to continuous learning. Our goal for each employee is 30 learning hours per year. The company offers classes such as Applied Math, English as a Second Language, Business Spanish, Yoga, Tai Chi, Advanced Excel techniques and many more. It’s great knowing that the company is investing in your future and career.

Another benefit I value is the company’s commitment to wellness. I have affordable health care, opportunities to take yoga on campus, and even get reimbursed up to $500 per year for wellness activities, such as skiing, gym memberships and even massages!

You can learn more about GMCR’s awesome benefits and other ways we’re Brewing a Better World at http://www.brewingabetterworld.com.

Curious to see which companies are the best places to work are in your state? Click here to see if your state has participated in a similar program.

Updated 6/23/11:  Stay tuned for another #NameThatCoffee contest on Twitter on Friday, June 24!  Read below to get details on how to play!

Updated 5/16/11:  You never cease to amaze us!  This week's coffee was Fair Trade Island Coconut - congrats to our 5 winners!

Updated 4/25/11:  Vermont Country Blend was our #NameThatCoffee prize this week!  Mmm, brisk and bright!

Updated 3/23/11: #NameThatCoffee was another success with Breakfast Blend Decaf!  Thanks for brewing along with us!

Updated 2/22/11:  Another contest down and you're all still amazing!  This week's coffee was Mocha Nut Fudge - how nutty you all were! :)

Updated 1/19/11: WOW - what a group of coffee connoisseurs we have on Twitter!   This week's coffee was Fair Trade Sumatran Reserve.   Guess we'll have to choose something a little harder next time...

--

Can you name a Green Mountain Coffee with only three clues to help you? Let’s see:

Subtle.




Nutty.




Fair Trade.

Name that coffee!

If you said, “Fair Trade Rain Forest Nut^®,” you’re right!

See? Whether you’re someone who has tasted through the Green Mountain Coffee collection or just sticks to a few time honored favorites, it’s easy to tap into your tasting knowledge and pick the right coffee that we’re describing – and win it, too.  Win? Yes! Here are the “Ground” rules for our #NameThatCoffee Twitter Contest:

Here’s how it works:

• Follow @GreenMtnCoffee on Twitter.


• On Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 9 AM, we’ll tweet out three clues about a variety of Green Mountain Coffee.


• @reply us with the coffee’s name and the hashtag #NameThatCoffee.
  
  
  
  • Example Reply: @GreenMtnCoffee It’s Rain Forest Nut! #NameThatCoffee
  
  
  
  


• The first three followers to guess the coffee correctly will win a bag/box of that delicious mystery java.


• For Official Rules, see below:

Green Mountain Coffee Name That Coffee Twitter Contest - UPDATED for 6/23/11

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE THE CHANCE OF WINNING. INTERNET ACCESS NECESSARY TO ENTER AND WIN.  RESTRICTIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED.

ENTRIES POSTED TO THE CONTEST ACCOUNT ARE NOT EDITED BY SPONSOR AND ARE THE VIEWS/OPINIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL ENTRANT AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF SPONSOR.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia (“U.S.”) who are 18 years of age or older as of June 19, 2011. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. This Contest is subject to the laws of the United States and Vermont and all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Employees of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., and Keurig, Incorporated and each of their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, Contest and fulfillment agencies, and members of the immediate family or household of each of the above are not eligible to participate.

SPONSOR: The Sponsor of this Contest is Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., 33 Coffee Lane, Waterbury, VT 05676 (“Sponsor” or “GMCR”).

ENTRY PERIOD: The Green Mountain Coffee Name That Coffee Twitter Contest (the “Contest”) runs between 8:00:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) to 11:00:00 AM EST on June 24, 2011 (the “Contest Period”).   Entries must be received no later than 11:00:00 AM EST June 24, 2011.  No entries will be accepted outside of the 8:00:00 AM EST to 11:00:00 EST entry period.

HOW TO ENTER: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE THE CHANCE OF WINNING. To enter, visit www.Twitter.com and log-in or create a free Twitter account. Then become a follower of @GreenMtnCoffee.  Once @GreenMtnCoffee tweets out the three clues, entrants must reply to @GreenMtnCoffee with the correct name of the coffee and the hashtag #NameThatCoffee.  Winners will be notified from the @GreenMtnCoffee page (or as otherwise determined by Sponsor in its discretion).  All entries must be received by 11:00:00 AM EST on May 19, 2011.  All entries must be submitted via Twitter.  NO OTHER FORMATS OR METHODS OF ENTRY ARE ACCEPTABLE.

Limit one (1) entry per person/Twitter account/day.  No person/Twitter account can win more than one time for the duration of the Contest. No mechanized, programmed or robotic entries are eligible, and use of illegal entry mechanisms may result in disqualification of the entrant.

ALL ENTRIES BECOME THE PROPERTY OF SPONSOR.  BY SUBMITTING AN ENTRY, ENTRANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HIS/HER ENTRY WILL BE OWNED BY SPONSOR, AND MAY BE POSTED ON SPONSOR’S WEBSITE OR DISPLAYED ON SPONSOR’S OTHER PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS IN ANY MEDIA THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN PERPETUITY IN SPONSOR’S DISCRETION WITHOUT ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION TO ENTRANT. Sponsor reserves the right to, but may or may not, monitor or screen entries and may or may not edit any entry in its sole discretion. By entering, you acknowledge that Sponsor has no obligation to use or post any entry or any entry in its entirety.  You assign all rights in the entry to Sponsor, its successors and assigns in perpetuity.  You waive any moral rights in your entry.  You warrant that your entry is your original work, has not been previously published, is not defamatory, scandalous, offensive or unlawful, and does not infringe on the intellectual property, privacy or other rights of any third party.  Your entry does not endorse any commercial product or service other than Sponsor’s products and services.   You entry does not disparage Sponsor or any third party.

All entries are subject to verification by Sponsor.

PRIZE: One (1) ten- (10) or twelve (12)-oz. bag or twenty-four (24) count box of Green Mountain Coffee, to be selected by the Sponsor. ARV of Prize: $8.49 to $15.45.  Prize includes shipment to winner’s address in the US or Canada.  Taxes are the responsibility of the winners.

ALL PRIZES ARE AWARDED “AS-IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE EXCLUDED. WINNERS AGREE TO ACCEPT THE PRIZE “AS-IS.”

ODDS OF WINNING: Odds of winning are dependent upon the total number of eligible entries received.

RESTRICTIONS: No assignment, transfer, cash redemption, or substitution of prize is permitted, provided that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any listed prize for one of equal or greater value if the designated prize should become unavailable for any reason.

Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules will not constitute a waiver of that provision.

WINNER: Contest Prize winners will be selected by Sponsor from the first three correct eligible entries received in the Contest Period. Contest Prize selection will occur on June 24, 2011.

Winner notification will be by Twitter or any other method chosen by Sponsor.  Potential winner will be required to contact Sponsor by direct message to Green Mountain Coffee via Twitter or as directed within forty-eight (48) hours of winner notification (the “Response Period”).   Return of a prize notification as undeliverable or failure to respond within the Response Period will result in disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected. If the winner chooses not to accept a Prize, an alternate winner will be chosen. In the event of a dispute, entries will be declared made by the authorized account holder of Twitter account submitted at time of entry. Unless otherwise noted, allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of a Prize following completion of notification and prize acceptance process. Prizes will only be delivered to addresses within the United States.

PUBLICITY: Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest constitutes the winner’s consent to Sponsor’s use of winner’s name, photograph, image, voice, opinions, biographical information, hometown and state for Sponsor’s purposes in any media in perpetuity without further payment or consideration.

GENERAL RELEASE: By participating and/or submitting an entry in this Contest, entrants agree: (a) to these Official Rules and all decisions of Sponsor, which shall be final in all respects relating to this Contest; and (b) to release and hold harmless Sponsor, and Keurig, Incorporated and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers and employees and agents from and against any claim, cause of action, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of any Prize.   SPONSOR MAY REQUIRE EXECUTION OF A SPECIFIC RELEASE PRIOR TO AWARD OF ANY PRIZE.

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY, DISPUTES: If, for any reason, the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, whether due to infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. In the event of termination, a random drawing to award the Prizes will be conducted from eligible entries received up until the time of termination, if such a drawing can be fairly conducted in Sponsor’s judgment.

Sponsor is not responsible for (i) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to the malfunctioning of any computer, cable, network, hardware or software, printing or typographical errors or lost, illegible or incomplete entries; (ii) the unavailability or inaccessibility of any providers, transmissions or telephone or Internet service; (iii) unauthorized human intervention in or unauthorized alteration to any part of the entry process or the Contest; (iv) electronic or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; or (v) any injury or damage to persons or property, including but not limited to entrant’s computer, hardware or software, which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Contest.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A PERSON TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

Entrant agrees that as a condition of entering the Contest: (i) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, or prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the state and federal courts of the State of Vermont; (ii) by participating or submitting an entry in the Contest, entrant consents to the personal jurisdiction and subject matter jurisdiction of such courts for such purpose; (iii) the parties waive any right to trial by jury; (iv) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred by entrant, including costs associated with entering this Contest but in no event entrant’s attorneys’ fees; and (v) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain award for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and further waives any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE RESTRICTIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

GOVERNING LAW: All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Contest shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Vermont, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law Official Rules.

ENTRY INFORMATION: Entry information becomes property of Sponsor subject to Sponsor’s privacy policy as posted on its website at the following Internet address: www.GreenMountainCoffee.com.

WINNERS LIST: For a list of winners, mail a self-addressed stamped envelope by August 1, 2011 to: Green Mountain Coffee Name That Coffee Twitter Contest Winners List Request, 33 Coffee Lane, PO Box 370, Waterbury, VT 05676-9927. Limit one request per envelope. Vermont residents do not need to include return postage.

COPY OF RULES:  For a printed copy of these Official Rules, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Green Mountain Coffee Name That Coffee Twitter Contest Rules, 33 Coffee Lane, PO Box 370, Waterbury, VT 05676-9927. Limit one request per envelope.  Vermont residents do not need to include return postage.

©2011 Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.  K-Cup® is the registered trademark of Keurig, Incorporated.   Green Mountain Coffee is the registered trademark of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.

Today, the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend, is probably one of the most difficult days for me in the office. All I can think about is the upcoming fun of the long holiday weekend; the barbecues, first (chilly) dip in the lake, and of course the parades. The

main reason we’re gathering though is to reunite with friends, loved-ones, and American traditions. Traditions that we all enjoy because of the great country we live in. Our soldiers played and play an important part in that tradition.

Memorial Day is a day when Americans pay tribute to those who have died in service and those that serve today. I know I will be cheering on my 90-year-old great-uncle tomorrow as he walks with the rest of the Veterans and thinking about those that are not there to march.

Here at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters we too honor our soldiers. As I’m sure many of you have heard from service men and women is the importance of coffee while in the field; especially good coffee. It is a comfort from home and a small luxury while on duty.

That is why we donate thousands of pounds of coffee to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan every year. We work with a great organization called Holy Joe’s Café, that provides coffee in a café setting at bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldiers can go to the cafés for spiritual guidance from the Chaplains, listen to music on open mic nights, or just enjoy a great cup of Green Mountain Coffee’s Dark Magic.

When our very own Vermont National Guard deployed to Afghanistan late last year, we knew that the comforts from Vermont that they would miss would include maple syrup and Green Mountain Coffee. Again, working with Holy Joe’s Café, every Vermont National Guard Chaplain has received coffee which will find its way into the hands of the Green Mountain Boys.

Thank you Holy Joe’s for helping us make an impact in our soldiers’ lives as they make a sacrifice for us. For updates from Holy Joe's you can follow them on Twitter.

How are you honoring our military woman and men this weekend? Have you sent Green Mountain Coffee or other comforts from home to those serving in the military?

Each year, groups of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc (GMCR) employees get the opportunity to travel to the very beginning of our coffee supply train: They travel to Source.  Susanne, one of our lovely Green Mountain Coffee marketers, offered to share her experience this past March as she ventured to coffee cooperatives in Mexico.  This is her story:

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I recently returned from a Mexican source trip sponsored by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.

A source trip is a unique opportunity for a select group of GMCR employees to visit several remote coffee farms and cooperatives to better understand their coffee growing practices. Since I spend each day sitting in my “Vermont” office trying to “Market” coffee, it seemed only fitting that I was chosen to better understand the true value of specialty coffee by actually visiting its source!

While traveling throughout Mexico, one of my favorite coffee growing regions that I visited was the Chiapas region. I quickly became educated on Fair Trade coffee practices. I also learned the art of patience, humility and harmony with nature.

Here is excerpt from my journal:

"After a five hour van ride from Tuxtla, I was ready for a sitz bath, foot massage and tequila shot! Instead, my colleagues and I hopped in the back of a pick up and set off on a 2 hour ride straight up the mountain. Holding on for dear life, we gasped our way to the top of a cloud-filled rainforest where coffee beans sunned themselves on the edge of the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, one of the most important nature reserves in the world because of its size and biodiversity. Home to over 400 different species of birds, this area also grows some of the finest Fair Trade Organic coffee.

I strolled over to the concrete patios where rows of coffee beans sat baking in the sun. I bravely peeked over the mountain’s edge to view the steep terrain. (It reminded me of the double black diamond ski trail I begrudgingly tackled the week before with my 8 year old son!) There, below me, I saw several farmers handpicking select red coffee cherries from the lush green bush they clung to. Excited to give it a try, I managed to pick a couple handful of cherries in approximately 30 minutes - a mere portion of what the farmer next to me was able to pick. I concluded I was not going to be offered a new job anytime soon!

After picking, sorting, washing, fermenting, processing, and drying (I might have forgotten a verb or two) the coffee beans and I made our perilous way back down the mountain. I couldn’t help but think that both the coffee and I (now close friends) were a long way from our final destinations.”

As I sit back down at my desk in Vermont, I ponder this moment in time. I now have a better understanding of the micro-climates that create high quality coffees. I have seen how farmers can co-exist with the environment and how buyers like GMCR can establish long-term relationships and stability with coffee growers through contracts and Fair Trade premiums. It gives me a real appreciation for the company’s purpose:

“We create the ultimate coffee experience in every life we touch from tree to cup – transforming the way the world understands business”.

Last month, our fierce PR team (Kristen, Sandy, Maureen and the newest member, Intern Liz!) used just a few of their 52-hours of volunteer time. Read Liz's take on her first CAFE (Community Action For Employees) experience!

On a Friday morning when most people were schlepping through their last few hours before the weekend, Green Mountain Coffee’s PR team, equipped with paint brushes and blue tape, was on a mission.

We were heading to Grounds for Heath, a non-profit organization that focuses on providing cervical cancer screening services to women in coffee-growing countries. Having just rearranged their office in Waterbury, Vermont, the PR team volunteered to help paint their new front reception area as part of Green Mountain Coffee’s CAFE time. (CAFE time, for those who don’t know about it, is one of the great benefits that Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. offers its employees. It allows employees to go out and volunteer for a combined 52 hours per year, and is counted as paid time-off. How neat is that!?)

Once we arrived at Grounds for Health, we quickly got to work, laying down newspaper to protect the carpet in the room and taping the trim so that paint didn’t end up where it wasn’t welcome. The prep work went smoothly, and in under an hour, we were off with our paint brushes & rollers! It was exciting to see the walls transform from a stark white into a warm, alluring yellow. When we had finished, the space looked like a completely different room, and the freshly-applied color made it the perfect place to house a reception area!

As an intern with the company, I’m really happy that I had the opportunity to complete some CAFE time and volunteer while I’m here. I love the idea that a company like Green Mountain Coffee can be successful and volunteer its time towards worthy causes! Now that I’ve gotten my feet wet in the proverbial “CAFE Time Pond,” I have only one question: “What’s next!?”

-Liz Stewart

Does your company have a volunteer program? We'd love to hear how your organization is helping out in the community. Interested in starting a volunteer program at your company? Read David Jones' (University of Vermont) paper on Corporate Social Responsibility and Employee Volunteerism Programs.