A couple of weeks ago I visited growers in Baraderes, our largest and oldest producer association.

Baraderes was hit very hard by Hurricane Matthew, and most people are still trying to recover. The debris has been cleared, but many of the houses are not habitable, and people have been displaced as a result. I noticed, though, that houses belonging to coffee growers had been repaired, many with new roofs. They had assets because of the income they receive from this business, and it was easier for them to recover.

We sent food assistance immediately after the hurricane, and seeds for food crops somewhat later. I was told that we sent the right assistance at the right time. Our method was to send cash to the leaders, and they purchased the items and distributed them, without outside assistance.

The growers also expressed to me how much they value our scholarship program. It is an opportunity for their children to create a better life, and with our internship program they graduate with work experience that makes them more employable. My own view is that a population with more college degrees will ultimately lead to better quality civil society and governance in Haiti, and we are trying to do our part.

We also held the first meeting of the umbrella organization for all the grower associations we work with, called COSOPLACH. Each association sent a representative to the first meeting, where we discussed issues of mutual concern, such as bags, transport, and export. All the associations will now be able to legally export under the COSOPLACH umbrella.

Finally, there was a lot of discussion about the nuts and bolts of our replanting project, to commence this spring. We expect to plant around 50,000 coffee trees and 50,000 shade trees (mixed forest and fruit trees) in the four associations affected by Hurricane Matthew. Our agronomist, Joane Charles, has begun training programs, and has started to hire the soil technicians who will oversee the work in each community.

We are very grateful to each of you for the support you provided for Hurricane Matthew recovery, for your contributions to the scholarship fund, and most importantly, for your coffee purchases.

Drink coffee, grow justice.