The Worlds Largest Salmon BBQ 2024

Redwood Coast Recreation Center Benefit

On Saturday, August 17, a benefit was held in the Sea Ranch Del Mar Center to help raise funds for the Redwood Coast Recreation Center which was lost in a tragic arson fire. This event was joyous and delicious with an array of sweet treats and decadent cheeses, to pair with wine and, of course, great coffee from us.

Cheeses From Penny Royal Farm, Valley Ford Creamery, Marin French Cheese, and Bohemian Creamery

Wines from Handley Cellars, Woodenhead, Wild Hog, Fort Ross, and Pacific Sar Wineries

Desserts from Franny's Cup and Saucer

Goodies from Trinks Cafe and 2 Fish Bakeries

• A single origin light roast from Guatemala
• A medium roast blend with our award-winning Mocha Java
• Our SongBird Colombian dark roast, plus
• A delicious decaffeinated offering – Royal Decaf.

The largest annual fundraiser for The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens happened on Saturday and Sunday, August 3rd and 4th... and Thanksgiving Coffee Company was there!

Art in The Gardens 2024

The 31st year of Art in the Gardens was a special weekend which brought together a diverse audience, including art enthusiasts, music lovers, local community members, and dedicated volunteers. Visitors were able to see the stunning dahlias in full bloom, enjoy local beer, wine, food, coffee, live music, ariel and dance performances, and support various artisans who generously donate a portion of their sales to the Gardens.

With more than 2,200 visitors and generous donors contributing a total of $74,367.96 (after expenses!) it's clear that Art in the Gardens continues to be a resounding success. This level of support is a testament to the event's popularity and the strong backing of the community. The funds raised will undoubtedly have a significant positive impact on the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, allowing for continued growth and improvements.

Jennifer Brown at the Thanksgiving Coffee Company booth

Art in The Gardens in full swing

"47 Acres to the Sea", the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a local treasure!

Circus Mecca took flight!

“CasparFest”

The annual fundraiser for The Caspar Community Center happened on Sunday, July 21st...and Thanksgiving Coffee Company was there!

Jennifer and Joe serving Thanksgiving Coffee

CasparFest 2024

The annual major fundraiser for The Caspar Community Center “CasparFest” happened on Sunday the 21st... and Thanksgiving Coffee Company was there! Hundreds of attendees including the local “Casparados” were in attendance with many other friends from around the area and tourists as well.

The town of Caspar, a former lumber mill and cattle ranch, is a small community, halfway between Fort Bragg and the Village of Mendocino, surrounded on three sides by CA State Parks (Jughandle, Jackson State Demonstration Forest and Russian Gulch) and the fourth side is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. Officially, Caspar is an unincorporated part of Mendocino County with a population of about 500 as per the 2020 census. I'm almost positive that every single one of them was there - either helping to make food, serve guests, or helping in other ways to make the magic happen at this largest single fundraiser for their Community Center annually.

Jennifer Brown and Joe Seta at the Thanksgiving Coffee Company booth

Caspar Community Center in full festivities

The Casper Community Center is really the town hub offering an array of classes and a location for events, including concerts, community breakfasts, meetings, and much more.

There was an abundance of vendors. food and music all day from bluegrass, Americana, salsa, folk, Jazz, and other ethnic music with many types of dance including youth from Caspar Ballet and Grupo Folklorico, and general boogieing for 8 hours. Music provided by Tropiqueño, Gwyneth Moreland and Angie Heimann, The Old Growth Jazz Club, and Whiskey Wristwatch.

Tropiqueño inciting the dancers to groove!

In the verdant highlands of Jinotega, Nicaragua, a revolutionary approach to gender equity is transforming the coffee industry. Led by the visionary Fátima Ismael, SOPPEXCCA cooperative operates on a powerful belief: "Women's independence can only be achieved through economic autonomy and awareness."

"This groundbreaking initiative doesn't just produce exceptional coffee – it creates a model for sustainable economic justice." – Thanksgiving Coffee Company

What makes this partnership unique is SOPPEXCCA's pioneering recognition of women's traditionally invisible contributions to coffee production. This approach addresses a global challenge documented extensively by international organizations including the United Nations.

Fátima Ismael, SOPPEXCCA'S General Manager

Since 2013, Thanksgiving Coffee Company has committed an additional $0.10 per pound of green coffee purchased from SOPPEXCCA – specifically allocated to recognize women's unpaid work. This initiative has now generated over $40,000 supporting women's economic empowerment.

According to UN Women research:

• Unpaid care work is essential to functioning economies but often goes uncounted and unrecognized
• Women—particularly from low-income, migrant, and racialized groups—perform more than three-quarters of unpaid care and domestic work globally
• If women's unpaid work were assigned monetary value, it would exceed up to 40% of GDP in some countries

Measurable Impact in Nicaragua

The SOPPEXCCA initiative has created transformative changes for women:

• Improved relationships among women in rural communities
• Increased active participation in economic decision-making processes
• Development of creative potential within family economies
• Financial independence through personal savings accounts
• Growing cooperative membership among women

"8 March ... Day of commemoration and new commitments for a world of equality, equity and respect .. Greetings female producers, friends and companions who have been with this organization on their way that has not been easy but together we have overcome a thousand adversities and will continue to be fighting ..." Soppexcca

Woman Farmers of Soppexcca Cooperative - Jinotego, Nicaragua

Shade Grown Coffee: Critical Habitat for Migratory Songbirds

SOPPEXCCA's commitment extends beyond economic justice. Their shade-grown cultivation methods create essential winter habitats for migratory songbirds, demonstrating how sustainable agriculture directly contributes to biodiversity conservation.

"When you choose SOPPEXCCA coffee, you're supporting both women's empowerment and environmental stewardship – values at the heart of Thanksgiving Coffee Company."

Woman Farmers from the Soppexxcca Cooperative - Jinotega, Nicaragua

UN Women's research reveals that investing in care infrastructure creates three times more jobs than equivalent investment in construction, with 70-90% of these jobs benefiting women.

The SOPPEXCCA fund represents precisely this kind of strategic investment.

Read about our support for the women of Soppexcca:

"Recognizing the Value of Womens Unpaid Work".

Celebrate the Women Coffee Farmers of Soppexcca

Pioneering Regenerative Agriculture

High in Nicaragua's pristine Arenal Forest Reserve, at 1,500 meters above sea level, Finca los Pinos stands as a testament to agricultural transformation. Here, Byron Corrales and his family have spent over four decades pioneering a different way of farming coffee. Since embracing organic practices in 1986, they've developed an innovative approach that works in perfect harmony with nature. Through their dedication to biodynamic farming, they've not only twice earned top honors for their extraordinary coffee, but they've also created a model for sustainable agriculture that's changing how we think about coffee cultivation.

A Legacy of Excellence

Our relationship with the Corrales family spans three generations, witnessing their evolution from traditional farming to becoming leaders in biodynamic agriculture. Byron's innovative spirit led him to develop the exceptional Maracaturra variety, a unique hybrid that produces remarkably large beans – distinctively bigger than typical Arabica coffee beans. This size isn't just for show; it allows for exceptional taste elements that smaller beans simply cannot achieve, delivering a remarkable sweetness and richness in every cup.

the Art Of Processing

Soil: The Foundation of Life

“I feel really happy that those who drink my coffee are drinking a cup of life”

Byron Corrales

Understanding the challenges of climate change, Byron has implemented robust adaptation strategies:

• Diverse tree species for enhanced shade coverage
• Strengthened soil biology
• Natural mineral enrichment
• Water conservation systems

"I want to transmit our family's art, our work of many years, discovering the flavors we've learned to bring forth from our mountains, expressed in this cup by way of respect for our environment," Byron shares. This respect for environment and commitment to regenerative practices creates coffee that is, in Byron's words, "the expression of life and the life energy of all the living beings who live in our community."

The Corrales Family from one of our origin trips.

Your morning coffee can be more than just a boost—it can drive positive change. With our Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certification and our Bee Bold Alliance initiative, we're turning your daily coffee ritual into a force for good. Here's how we're making waves in the world of sustainable agriculture while serving up exceptional coffee.

Butterfly on coffee leaf, Soppexxcca Coop, Nicaragua

Our coffee farming goes beyond conventional methods. We nurture complete ecosystems where coffee plants thrive alongside native flora and fauna. A single coffee tree can support over 100 insect species, enhancing biodiversity on our farms.

coffee beans ripening in the understory of the forest canopy

Our commitment to biodiversity is reflected in two key initiatives:

AT ORIGIN

 Smithsonian Bird Friendly ® Certification: This certification is literally the environmental gold standard in the sustainable coffee industry. As holders of the Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certification since 2015, we adhere to the most comprehensive, science-based standards in the coffee industry. This certification requires:

• Multiple layers of native tree canopy providing crucial wildlife habitat
• USDA Organic certification as a foundation, ensuring chemical-free farming
• Regular third-party inspections verifying our environmental impact
• Documented support of migratory birds and local biodiversity

Did you know? A single coffee tree on a certified farm can support over 100 distinct insect species!

AT HOME

 The Bee Bold Alliance: This is our initiative to restore biodiversity and support local food security through pollinator protection. The vision is to create a regenerative ecology network in our community for comprehensive pollinator protection. Here are the key principles guiding our path forward:

• Protecting the Soil: We're working toward eliminating harmful pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides from our farming practices. This transition aims to create healthier environments for pollinators while maintaining productive coffee cultivation.
• Watershed Stewardship: Our growing commitment includes developing better water conservation practices, reducing fertilizer usage, and implementing responsible waste management systems.
• Fostering Pollinator Forage: We're exploring ways to integrate more flowering plants throughout our local farms, aiming to provide year-round nutrition that supports healthy pollinator populations.
• Honoring Indigenous Wisdom: We're beginning to build relationships with Native/First Nation peoples in our growing regions, seeking to learn from their traditional knowledge and collaborate on sustainable solutions for the future.

We're reaching out to neighboring farms and communities, inviting them to join us in protecting pollinators. This initiative is beginning to form, and we believe that together, we can create meaningful change.

We believe in the power of collective action. Here are ways you can participate in this journey:

1. Choose coffee that aligns with your environmental values

2. Cultivate native wildflowers in your garden or community spaces

3. Consider natural pest management practices

4. Create undisturbed areas in your garden to provide natural habitats

5. Learn about pollinator-friendly plants suitable for your local ecosystem

We're at an exciting point in our environmental journey, where your choice of coffee can help shape future agricultural practices. Our Bird Friendly® certified coffee demonstrates our established commitment to environmental stewardship, while our developing Bee Bold Coffee initiative shows where we're heading. By choosing these products, you're not just selecting quality coffee—you're supporting the evolution of sustainable and pollinator-friendly agriculture.

Join us on this journey toward biodiversity conservation through sustainable agriculture. Your support through choosing our Bird Friendly® certified coffee and Bee Bold Coffee helps create positive environmental change, one cup at a time.