Coffee Corps™ Volunteer Program Established With Funding From USAID Global Development Alliance

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, D.C./LONG BEACH, CA - The Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are establishing a volunteer program to help improve the livelihoods of coffee farmers. This program – known as the Coffee Corps™ – is an example of how the private and public sectors can work together to address the serious problems being faced by coffee farmers around the world. USAID will provide initial funding for establishment of the Coffee Corps and travel costs for volunteers. CQI will use its unique position within the coffee industry to leverage highly skilled professionals willing to donate their time and expertise to assist coffee producers overseas.

“I believe that making coffee experts available to work directly with groups at origin is another important step in the efforts being made to address the coffee crisis,” said Gerald Baldwin, Chairman of the CQI Board of Trustees and former chairman of Peet’s Coffee & Tea. “The Coffee Corps™ represents a new part of CQI’s mission which is to focus not only on coffee science and sustainability, but also service.”

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