CHERRY HILL COFFEE - So Green it's Rad
Cherry Hill may look red to you but it's one of the greenest coffee companies we’ve come across – and by that, we mean in a good way.
The family-owned, Kelowna-based company has been roasting Arabica beans since the ‘80s, but last year it underwent a re-branding, not just to bring the packaging up to modern speed (see this
terrific shot by photographer Darren Hull), but also to better reflect the environmental and social awareness issues the company believes in.
Like a number of other eco-aware coffee importers, Cherry Hill have long supported a fair trade, organic program that protects growers and workers in developing countries, but now they are bringing their green ideology closer to home. Last fall they introduced a 100% compostable cup made with renewable materials and an innovative corn-based liner. (Conventional hot paper cups use a waterproof lining made from a petroleum-based plastic that is not sustainable. According to the company, the petrochemicals used to manufacture these cups could heat 8,300 homes for one year.)
Then going one step further, the company then partnered with a local compost and recycling organization to establish a grassroots waste management program whereby coffee grounds and roasting by-products such as chaff, along with their “ecotainer” cups are picked up weekly and converted into topsoil for local farms.
Cherry Hill may not be a well-recognized brand in Vancouver and Victoria, but the Okanagan scene is totally hip to it, and many local restaurants and cafes are joining in on the composting program with their own recyclable waste.
If you are in Kelowna you can visit the Cherry Hill retail store and café at 1404 Hunter Court, Unit 1. 1-877-737-5282. Open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Otherwise, look for their line of products on the shelves of independent and natural food stores. You can also mail order direct from the company from their website. (They roast to order.)
Why not follow the example of Valley folk and try the
Okanagan Gold? it's an organic, fair trade blend with a medium body, coupled with a delicate sweetness.
