First sustainable coffee tasting event held.(Trade News)(Rainforest Alliance )

Tea & Coffee Trade Journal, June, 2004

Members of the coffee trade and press joined the Rainforest Alliance recently to watch renowned coffee cuppers participate in the first sustainable coffee cupping event, "Cupping for Quality." The event, which was held at the French Culinary Institute of New York, brought attention to the growing amount of Rainforest Alliance Certified "sustainable coffees" which have been gaining in popularity in the U.S. market thanks to a broadening interest in higher quality beans with a social conscience. Analogous to a wine tasting, a diverse variety of fine sustainable coffees were represented from countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama and Mexico.

Ted Lingle, executive director of the Specialty Coffee Association of...