 Equal Exchange and Lutheran World Relief introduce new “Organic Sisters’ Blend” in honor of women around the world.
Organic Sisters' Blend was inspired by the enthusiasm and leadership of Women of the ELCA in supporting the 90-Ton Challenge, a year-long campaign led by LWR, Women of the ELCA and Equal Exchange to double the amount of fair-trade coffee purchased by Lutherans through the LWR Coffee Project.
"Women of the ELCA have long been key partners for Lutheran World Relief," said Brenda Meier, coordinator of the LWR Coffee Project. "They helped launch the LWR Coffee Project in 1997, and they again made a huge contribution by helping raise LWR's fair trade work to a new level through the success of the 90-Ton Challenge. Their endless energy and commitment inspired the creation of Organic Sisters' Blend coffee."
The 90-Ton Challenge ended last fall and exceeded the 90-ton goal: Lutheran congregations and individuals bought more than 99 tons of fair-trade coffee.
Congregations of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod are eager participants as well. At the recent Lutheran Women's Missionary League Biennial Convention in Tampa, notes Meier, many women told her their parishes were participating in the LWR Coffee Project, and others, just learning about Fair Trade, were excited to take information home to help their parishes get involved.
"I was very excited to hear that Organic Sisters’ Blend is a reality," said Nancy Goldberger, former editor of Lutheran Woman Today, the magazine of Women of the ELCA. An Equal Exchange Interfaith trip to meet coffee farmers in El Salvador inspired Goldberger to use the magazine as a way to promote Fair Trade. From her idea the concept for the 90-Ton Challenge was created. "It is a wonderful tribute, and it serves to lift up and continue the connection between women in farming communities in South America and women in the U.S., sisters across geographic boundaries who can reunite over each cup of fairly traded coffee. The 90-Ton Challenge effort between Women of the ELCA, LWR and Equal Exchange is one of the most rewarding collaborative events I've ever been involved in."
Learn more about Fair Trade and how it improves the lives of coffee farmers around the world: Listen to the July 10th broadcast of Grace Matters. Host Peter Marty interviewed LWR's Brenda Meier, coordinator of the LWR Coffee Project, about Fair Trade and how our consumer choices can make a difference in the life of someone we've never met. The weekly radio program of the ELCA, Grace Matters is broadcast on radio stations around the world and also on the internet at: http://www.gracematters.org/listen.html
Congregations, churches, and faith-based organizations may purchase Organic Sisters' Blend online at the LWR Coffee Project Store.
To download information that you can bring to your congregation on the new Organic Sisters’ Blend, click here for the flyer in pdf format.
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Interfaith Program 
