Seeking a Sustainable Path for Coffee, and Coffee Farmers, in Haiti
by Andrew Revkin
Todd Carmichael, a founder of the coffee roaster La Colombe Torrefaction, is an interesting mix of entrepreneur, adventurer (Antarctic speed trekker), showman (a reality TV show on coffee hunting is coming) and philanthropist. His latest venture combining all of these traits is a line of coffee, called Lyon, sales of which will generate money for environmental initiatives supported by the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. The coffee blend includes beans that Carmichael is obtaining from Haitian sources that, he says, sidestep predatory loan sharks and middlemen who have hampered the climb out of poverty by Haitian coffee growers. I recently had an e-mail exchange with Carmichael about his experience building relationships with coffee growers in rural Haiti.
You can read the interview here
