Organic Coffee Market Grows Dramatically in 2006

GREENFIELD, Mass. -- Sales of organic coffee are growing rapidly, according to new the Organic Trade Association's (OTA's) 2007 Organic Manufacturer Survey. U.S. retail sales of organic coffee in 2006 increased 24 percent to $110.3 million, the trade group reported.

"The dramatic increase in organic coffee sales mirrors the continuing growth in the overall organic sector, and reflects consumers' increasing awareness of these products, their high quality, and the availability of these beverages in venues ranging from small coffee shops to 'Big Box' stores," said Caren Wilcox, executive director of the OTA here.

Regarding quality, OTA's Wilcox said that several organic coffees from farms in Nicaragua won the Cup of Excellence competition in that country June 6, 2007. The prestigious award program, managed by the U.S.-based Alliance for Coffee Excellence, selects the best coffees produced in a particular country in a particular year.

The Organic Coffee Collaboration, a project of the Organic Trade Association, is helping to drive this increase in retail sales, the trade association said. Consisting of the leading brokers, roasters, and decaffeinators, the group of coffee companies provides much of the organic decaffeinated, caffeinated, flavored, and instant coffees available at retail outlets nationwide and direct from roasters via the Internet.

The companies in the group are: Cafe Bom Dia (Coral Gables, FL), Dallis Coffee (New York City, NY) DaSilva Fine Brazilian Coffee (Winston-Salem, NC), Elan Organic Coffee (San Diego, CA), Equal Exchange (West Bridgewater, MA), F. Gavina & Sons (Vernon, CA), Fresh Harvest Products (New York City, NY), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (Waterbury, VT) and Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company (Vancouver, BC, Canada).

For further information on the Collaboration, visit http://www.ota.com/organic_and_you/coffee_collaboration.html.
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