Industry Gathering Sheds Light on Human Rights and Equality for Women Coffee Producers

Coffee Tea and Me Expo Helps Educate Public About Coffee Communities Worldwide and Bring Increased Support for The Café Femenino Project and Foundation

Although women coffee producers represent 30 percent of the 25 million coffee growers worldwide, they continue to face harsh gender inequality, poverty and abuse. Continued industry support and public involvement are critical to help bring change, and enhance the livelihoods of those who are affected.

Sponsored by CoffeeHouse Digest®, the Coffee Tea and Me Expo is taking place on October 20th in Pasadena, Calif. and will bring together vendors, latest products and a variety of entertainment and activities to educate the public on the worldwide coffee and tea market. The expo will also highlight the work of The Café Femenino Project and its ongoing efforts to help end the cycle of abuse and poverty afflicting millions of women coffee producers worldwide.

The Café Femenino Project is an innovative social program that enables women to harvest, produce and sell their own special, high-quality organic coffee, Café Femenino. Gay Smith, founder of The Café Femenino Project and a well-regarded authority figure on issues related to fair trade coffee market, will discuss The Café Femenino Project's latest activities, as well as shed insight into the working and living conditions of those responsible for producing 75 percent of the world's coffee.

Open to the public, the expo gathers thousands of coffee, tea and confectionary vendors from around the country for a one-day event featuring industry lecturers and tutorials, as well as product sampling and demonstrations. Music entertainment and a silent auction will cap off the day. Proceeds from the expo will benefit The Café Femenino Foundation, a non-profit organization named after The Café Femenino Project, which provides grants that help enhance the lives of women and their families in coffee producing communities around the world.

Founded by Organic Products Trading Company and supported through an alliance of organizations, The Café Femenino Coffee Project help women coffee producers achieve empowerment, build social and support networks, and earn incomes. Launched in 2004, the Project currently involves more than 4,000 women in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru.

Coffee Tea and Me Expo takes place October 20, 2007 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, Calif. Tickets are $20 at the door. For more information regarding Expo registration, sponsorship and exhibit opportunities, please visit www.coffeeteaandmeexpo.com or contact 877-600-1276 ext 5.

About The Café Femenino Foundation

The Café Femenino Foundation was formed in December 2004 as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization to provide grants to select programs and projects that enhance the lives of women and their families in coffee producing communities around the world. The Foundation helps promote the integration of women coffee farmers into social, political and occupational organizations. For further information on The Café Femenino Foundation, visit www.cafefemeninofoundation.org.

About CoffeeHouse Digest®

Southern California-based CoffeeHouse Digest® is the only national lifestyle magazine distributed through independent coffeehouses in the United States. Covering a wide variety of topics, including the standard coffee, tea, food, music and book columns, the magazine also follows eco-trends and technology breakthroughs as part of the coffeehouse scene. CHD recently launched its online flipbook where readers at Wi-Fi hot spots can browse the magazine, translate it into four languages and watch streaming video commercials by clicking on an ad or story.

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