RAINFOREST ALLIANCE PARTNERS WITH PORTLAND, OREGON'S BOYD COFFEE COMPANY

New York, NY - Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee will now be widely available to restaurants, hotels and consumers thanks to a new partnership with Boyd Coffee Company, the oldest family-owned coffee company in the Pacific Northwest. Coffee carrying the Rainforest Alliance seal of approval was grown and harvested according to a comprehensive set of guidelines that protect the environment as well as the rights of workers and local communities. On Rainforest Alliance-certified farms, workers are treated fairly, soil and water quality are not compromised, waste is managed efficiently, chemical use is dramatically reduced and relations with surrounding communities are strong.

"For some time now we have been searching for an organization that supports all aspects of sustainably grown coffees - social, economic and environmental," said Randy Layton Coffee Company's coffee master and vice president of coffee operations. "The Rainforest Alliance is just such a partner, and this is a tremendous step toward making high quality certified sustainable coffee available while helping to conserve the rainforest, protect wildlife, and sustain farming communities."

"Consumers are looking for socially responsible products, and visionary market leaders like Boyd Coffee Company are choosing ethically sourced beans," stated Sabrina Vigilante, the Rainforest Alliance's marketing coordinator. "It's now easier than ever for consumers to make a difference and support sustainable farming practices through everyday purchasing decisions."

Boyd Coffee Company's Rainforest Alliance-certified coffees will be available online at www.boyds.com or by calling (800)223-8211.

About The Rainforest Alliance

Since its inception 16 years ago, the Rainforest Alliance has pioneered the certification of sustainably managed forests, a movement that has protected more than 72 million acres of forest worldwide. Building upon this success, the organization has created programs in sustainable agriculture and tourism, which are now setting global standards for these industries. The Rainforest Alliance's work enables businesses and local communities to protect the natural resources on which they depend, while providing consumers with environmentally and socially friendly choices in food, wood products and tourism. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.


About Boyd Coffee Company

Boyd Coffee Company has been serving the Pacific Northwest and beyond since 1900. The privately held family company provides coffee, espresso, rare estate coffees, teas and related equipment for restaurants and other foodservice operations nationwide and abroad. Boyd Coffee Company offers more than 650 coffee and food items, and is headquartered on a 30-acre site just east of Portland, Oregon.
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Sarah W. Obraitis
Program Associate
Rainforest Alliance
665 Broadway, Suite 500
New York, NY 10012
Tel: 212-677-1900 Ext. 1972
Fax: 212-677-2187
sobraitis@ra.org

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