The increase in production and consumption of organic coffee is good news for the environment. After all, organic coffee production systems:

• build biologically diverse forests including native shade trees which attract birds and wildlife and absorb carbon dioxide, a primary cause of global warming
• replenish and maintain soil fertility and help reduce soil erosion, and
• use natural pest management and composting.

Third-party certification organizations verify that organic farmers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. Organic coffee is grown in approximately 33 countries, including the United States.

Where: Josie's Restaurant East (a Chef Louis Lanza restaurant), 565 3rd Avenue at 37th Street in New York City, NY (212-490-1558).

When: Tuesday, June 5, 8:30 -10 a.m. Sampling and breakfast to be followed by brief presentations by participants at 9 a.m.

Reservations/Information: Sandra Marquardt, 301-592-0077

Who: The Organic Coffee Collaboration--a project of the Organic Trade Association, the business association for the North American organic industry. The Collaboration includes:

Café Bom Dia (Coral Gables, FL) - Café Bom Dia is the first coffee company in the world to be awarded "Carbon Neutral" certification. Its Marques De Paiva brand is available with organic, organic decaf, Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance certifications. You can find Marques de Paiva at Sam's Club, HEB, and select Wal-Mart stores.

Dallis Coffee (New York, NY) - A leading provider of organic and Fair Trade Certified™ coffees, selling to Whole Foods, universities and top cafés and restaurants across the country.

DaSilva Fine Brazilian Coffee® (Greensboro, NC) - Provides organic ultra-premium single-estate coffee directly from Espírito Santo, Brazil, hand-selected and picked only from the most recent crops.

Elan Organic Coffees (San Diego, CA) - Coffee developer and importer offering certified organic socially responsible coffees it develops through partnerships with village co-ops.

Equal Exchange (West Bridgewater, MA) - Worker-owned, Fair Trade Certified™ cooperative and one of the largest U.S. organic coffee roasters.

F. Gaviña & Sons (Vernon, CA) - A family-owned and operated specialty coffee roaster with over 135 years' experience as growers, traders and roasters of fine coffees. The Gaviña family is committed to producing high quality 100% organic coffees for its Gaviña Gourmet Coffee and Don Francisco's Specialty Coffee brands.

Fresh Harvest Products, Inc. (New York, NY) - Its Wings of Nature® brand coffees are small-batch roasted to a temperature that peaks the flavor and aroma of each bean, and then custom blended after roasting to provide unique and flavorful varieties.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (Waterbury, VT) - One of the leading U.S. organic coffee roasters and number one on CRO Magazine's list of "100 Best Corporate Citizens" for the past two years.

Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company (Vancouver, BC, Canada) - North America's leading certified organic coffee decaffeinator, which decaffeinates coffee for three Organic Coffee Collaboration participants: Café Bom Dia, Elan Organic Coffees, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

See Organic Coffee Collaboration for further information on the Collaboration as well as fact sheets on the organic coffee market and the benefits of growing coffee organically.