Denise Henderson is the Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Heifer International. Below, she writes about her recent experiences visiting Heifer projects:

"For several years through a partnership with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR), Heifer International has been committed to fighting hunger and seasonal poverty in coffee growing areas, most notably in Mexico and Central and South America.

Through its work, Heifer conducts agriculture and livestock programs that enable farmers to achieve food security, improve yields and generate revenue by diversifying crop and animal production. Heifer applies improved farming techniques and helps farmers bring products to market through its community-based approach.

In the past few months, I have had the opportunity to see the partnership between Heifer and GMCR in action, both in the field and here in the United States.

In February, I traveled to Honduras with a group of Heifer International staff. While visiting coffee farmers in Marcala, our group observed a distinct difference between families who had the good fortune of participating in a Heifer program designed to address food security and income, and those who didn’t. The families participating in the Heifer projects we visited were healthy and well fed.

In contrast, it was difficult to bear the sight of visibly undernourished residents and their animals that grazed on patches of grass wherever available…usually on the side of a narrow, crooked road with lots of cars and trucks going by.  We were alarmed when our driver screeched to a stop to prevent hitting a cow stopped in the road.

While we were able to see only a few coffee farmers, it was apparent the great struggles of many who provide one of our greatest pleasures – a good cup of coffee - must experience each year. I’m proud to be part of the Heifer-GMCR partnership working to end seasonal hunger and poverty in this part of the world.

In April, I was part of a delegation of Heifer International representatives who attended the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) event in Portland, OR. 

While at SCAA, we were awestruck by the collaboration beginning to form.  Global non-government organizations are beginning to consider collective impact and what it might look like to work together. Competing companies are joining forces to help their coffee producers, for the good of their farmers and their coffee supply chain. Individual agendas are being abandoned in favor of a collective approach to improve hunger and poverty during “the thin months.” It seemed that all are beginning to understand that there won’t be great coffee if there are no coffee growers.

We at Heifer are very happy to be part of the solution of addressing hunger in the coffeelands, and we look forward to our continuing relationship with those in the coffee industry who share the same ideals." 

Coffee Kids: Continuing the Dialogue around Food Security

In last month’s email newsletter, we discussed bringing you stories from NGOs and industry leaders focused on improving food security in the coffeelands. Coffee Kids is one such organization that works with coffee-farming families to improve their lives and livelihoods. Below is an update from Coffee Kids on their efforts around this topic within the specialty-coffee industry and coffee communities.

"The premiere of the documentary “After the Harvest: Fighting Hunger in the Coffeelands”at the Specialty Coffee Association’s 2011 Symposium in Houston last year spoke to a topic to which Coffee Kids has long been attentive: seasonal hunger and food insecurity within coffee growing communities. In addition to continuing the crucial dialogue instigated by the premiere, most notably at this year’s SCAA event in Portland, OR, our food security campaign continues. We have committed to raising $50,000 for food security projects by the end of 2012. These funds will go towards projects that enable coffee farming families to improve their nutritional well-being and increase communities’ capacities to ensure an adequate supply of fresh, local food, minimizing the impact of rising global food prices.

Beginning in 2011 and continuing through 2012, 45% of the projects we have supported have improved (and continue to improve) the food security of coffee growing communities. These projects, always developed in conjunction with the communities themselves, range from worm-composting modules and education to the establishing of family vegetable gardens to comprehensive health and nutrition programs. The projects are diverse and wide-ranging and are always attentive to the needs and goals of the communities choosing to implement them.

All our food security projects will take place in Mexico this year, where despite the country’s relative wealth, food insecurity poses a pressing issue in rural communities, rendering the country vulnerable to food crisis in coming years. Currently, we are developing 5 projects in Oaxaca, 2 in Veracruz and 1 in Chiapas – all regions where sustainable food futures are at risk. And we plan to expand our programs to additional countries as more communities seek to become involved.

Some of the greatest successes of 2011-12 so far have been projects in worm-composting. The example of the Worm Composting and Gardening project, being run by program partner, the December 5th Coffee Producers Network (RED 5), in Oaxaca, illustrates how much can be done with just a small investment. In just one year, the group has set up worm-composting bins for 39 participating families and generated more than 15,000 pounds of compost, which they use in their family vegetable gardens. In a region of Oaxaca where topsoil depletion is a grave problem, the worm-composting project provides opportunity to replace essential soil nutrients, allowing farmers to increase vegetable production both for their own consumption and to sell in local markets.

Another exciting initiative is the Community Participation in Food Security project being run by partner TCPI (Everything as Indigenous People). Currently in very early stages of development, the project will directly strengthen the subsistence farming systems of 25 families in the community and will over the coming years be rolled out to the entire community. By improving agroecological practices, the participants will increase their food production and recuperate the soil’s fertility, protecting it from further erosion. The project has been endorsed by local authorities and community members have expressed excitement at the opportunity to improve their subsistence yields while also increasing soil fertility, which will enable them to pass on both agricultural traditions and a better life to future generations.

As our approach to improving lives and livelihoods is always holistic, in addition to food security, Coffee Kids continues to develop projects in the parallel areas of healthcare, education, capacity building, and income diversification. With an approach that integrates all these areas of social development, we know a better food future, and coffee future, can be achieved."

Did you catch these After the Harvest Showings?

As word continues to spread, more asked for After the Harvest to be shown in their community. Check out the lastest showings below:

Ongoing: As you already read, the film was accepted into the Media that Matters 2012 (MTM12) Film Festival. For the rest of 2012, MTM12 will travel around the US with the collection of films to areas requesting a showing. This week, the film was shown in two NYC schools: Grace Church School and Bushwick School of Social Justice.

November 24, 2011 : Tutti nello stesso piatto Film Festival accepted and showed After the Harvest in their food-focused film festival in Italy. The film received a special mention with the following accolades: Provocative in a positive way and deeply impactful, “After the Harvest” highlights the issue of food insecurity in the coffee growers communities of Central America. The movie is a little masterpiece also for its ability to document and illustrate with clarity the reality which it is investigating.

September 24, 2011: Blogger, Heather Heagney, hosted a showing of her own. Coincidentally enough, her blog is also called After the Harvest and, hence, the journey began. Her film showing was called “Cultivate: A Mini Film Fest.” The event brought together local business and the community to raise awareness about food insecurity and to raise dollars for Heifer International, an organization highlighted in the film. Her event raised $670!

August 2011 (event August 29-31): The film was shown in Nicaragua at the International Coffee Fonference Ramacafe 2011. event hosted by Ramacafe. The event is origin-focused and draws people from the Latin America region and from around the world.

You can view this documentary on food security in coffee communities here.

After the Harvest Film Screenings Continue to Spread

More screenings are popping up all over the U.S. and internationally! See listings below for the latest screenings!

October 12-16: The film was not accepted as a finalist for the Planet in Focus competition, but they are including the film in their Green Market this year during the festival. This means that industry delegates can ask to see the DVD on a computer that they provide during the festival.

October 15 (event Oct 13-17): The film will be shown in El Salvador at Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importer’s

annual event. This annual training event brings together hundreds of specialty coffee suppliers, roasters, financiers, and others to learn from one another. It will be shown in Spanish and the new version will be added to the AftertheHarvest.org website

October 29 (event Oct 27-30): Southern Appalachian Film Festival is showing and judging the film in this festival located in Greensville and Knoxville, TN.

November 3-5: Middle East Coffee and Tea Convention in Dubai, “Middle East Premiere.”

Vermont International Film Festival and Planting Hope both to screen Film!

The buzz around After the Harvest continues to grow. Last week, The Coffee Ethic held a screening of the movie at their coffee shop in Springfield, Missouri!

We are pleased to announce that the film will be shown at the Vermont International Film Festival on October 22, 2011 at the Palace 9 Cinemas in South Burlington, VT. The Film Festival features independent films from around the world as well as offering the largest selection of films made by Vermont filmmakers.

Planting Hope will also be showing the film at their 9th Annual Celebration on October 8, 2011 at the Unitarian Church in Montpelier, VT. In addition to the screening there will be dinner and music by Dean Stevens.

If you're looking to host your own screening check out our Resources Page to download the film as well as screening posters!

Upcoming Screenings of "After the Harvest"!

Next week, August 16th and 17th we're hosting two screenings of "After the Harvest: Fighting Hunger in the Coffeelands" in Vermont! If you're in the area please stop in to view the movie and participate in a Q&A with Rick Peyser, Director of Coffee Community Outreach and Social Advocacy for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc..

Media That Matters™Film Showcase, August 16th - The 20-minute "After the Harvest" documentary will be shown, followed by a short Q&A and coffee break and will be followed by three additional short films from the Media that Matters™ collection. Media That Matters™ is a program of Arts Engine, a nonprofit dedicated to driving change by connecting media, technology, and community. Visit www.mediathatmattersfest.org for more information.

What: Media That Matters™ Film Showcase
When: Tuesday, August 16, 2011
7pm
Where: Main Street Landing Company Film House Space
60 Lake Street
Burlington
Cost: Free!

Waterbury Screening of "After the Harvest", August 17th - After the 20-minute film screening, Rick Peyser, Director of Coffee Community Outreach and Social Advocacy for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., will lead a brief Q&A session and coffee break after the film. He will discuss the making of the film, his experience in coffee-growing communities, and what can be done to alleviate the effects of the thin months. Light refreshments will be served.

What: “After the Harvest: Fighting Hunger in the Coffeelands” film screening
When: Wednesday, August 17, 2011
5:15 pm
Where: 81 Demeritt Place, Waterbury, VT
Cost: Free!

If you cannot make one of these screenings or would like to hold one of your own, you can watch as well as download the full documentary online or request a DVD copy to be mailed to you.

Now Streaming: After The Harvest: Fighting Hunger in the Coffeelands

The dust has settled after an inspiring and productive SCAA! During the conference many specialty coffee industry professionals expressed interest in working to address Food Insecurity in coffee-growing communities. A working group is coming together, so if you are interested in getting involved, please use the Contact Us form on this site.

We're also excited to report that the full-length film can now be viewed online! You can watch the film below or visit blip.tv to watch or download it directly to your computer.