Last August Just Coffee raised a whopping $1660.00usd at the Producer2Producer (P2P) Fundraiser. Combined with money raised at a previous presentation held at Java Cat, Just Coffee has now managed to save a total of $1835.00usd for the P2P fund!

The P2P fund will go to send someone from LaFEM cooperative on a Just Coffee Delegation to meet another group of Central American or Caribbean coffee growers that Just Coffee also purchases coffee from. The trip will serve as an educational and skills exchange and is something that LaFEM has been wanting to do since the initiation of their relationship with Just Coffee. You should know by now, but in case you don't, LaFEM is an all-womens coffee growing cooperative and women’s advocacy group, located in and near Estell, Nicaragua. Just Coffee is very happy to soon be able to finally make this dream a reality.

Because of the great success of the P2P Fundraisers, and the support of Just Coffee's customers and friends, Just Coffee raised enough money to be able to not only send someone from LaFEM to visit another group of coffee producers, but also to send someone from the cooperative that LaFEM visits on a Just Coffee Delegation to visit LaFEM. A real exchange indeed! The lives of coffee growers are not easy and an exchange such as this, or travel of any kind at all for that matter, is not common in their lives. Just Coffee hopes foster a great educational opportunity for these growers as well as continue to build and strengthen our relationships with these growers and their relationships with each other.

  (Just Coffee friends Ambra & Corey Hart who helped with organization, advertising, and execution of the P2P Fundraiser. Ambra was an excellent mc and Corey Hart played a sample of his fantastic music. Corey is local to Madison so definitely check out his music!)

(Jonathan Zarov entertained the crowd with his great selection of music at the P2P Fundraiser….possibly on Madison’s tallest stage?)

The P2P Fundraiser included:
-A presentation and photo slide show by Brenda McKee and Mark Dohm who had recently returned from the 2009 Just Coffee Delegation to LaFEM in Nicaragua;
-Tours of Just Coffee’s roastery by Just Coffee founder Mike Moon;
-A coffee tasting facilitated by Mat Emden to determine ‘Madison’s Favorite Just Coffee Blend’ (more to come on this in a future blog);
-Music by local musician Corey Hart;
-Music by local musician and local radio personality Jonathan Zarov;
-A huge Silent Auction and various raffles;
-Bike Tune-Ups by Revolution Cycles;
-Delicious food thanks to Roman Candle Pizzeria, MariMar Mexican Restaurant, Scott & April at Garden To Be, Mark the Spark, Mark Dohm, and Brenda McKee;
-Out of this world coffee flavored gelato using LaFEM’s LasDiosas coffee made by our friends at Java Cat; and
-Furthermore Beer’s Oscura beer which also uses LaFEM’s coffee in it for a great flavor and some extra caffeine kick!

(Susan & Jeff worked very hard to organize and manage the P2P Fundraiser Silent Auction which, thanks to the many generous donations we received from individuals and local businesses, was no small feat!)

(The lucky winner of a hand-woven traditional Timorese basket. These baskets are an excellent alternative to plastic bags and are completely biodegradable and compostable.)

THANK YOU to ALL of the generous individuals and local businesses that donated their time, money, and prizes to Just Coffee’s P2P Fundraiser! We could not, and cannot, do it without you.
-Ambra & Corey Hart
-Brenda McKee
-Café Soleil
-Cognition Caps
-Community Pharmacy
-Eva Schulte
-Family Farm Defenders & John Peck
-Four Star Video Heaven
-Furthermore Beer
-Garden to Be & Scott and April
-Goodman Community Center
-Java Cat
-John Hunter
-Lakeside Press
-Mad City Music Exchange
-Madison Infoshop
-Mark Dohm
-Mound Street Yoga Center
-Nature’s Bakery Cooperative
-Planet Bike
-Potter’s Crackers
-REI
-Revolution Cycles
-Roman Candle Pizzeria
-A Room of One's Own Feminist Bookstore
-Terra Experience
-1055 Triple M Radio
-Tuvalu Coffeehouse & Gallery
-Underground Food Collective
-Weary Traveler
-Williamson Street Grocery Cooperative
-Tuvalu Coffeehouse & Gallery
-WORT Community Radio

Stay tuned for more information as LaFEM travels to visit another group of coffee growers that Just Coffee purchases coffee from.