St Remio x UTZ. The new era.

We have always believed in sourcing sustainable coffee. Because if we don’t look after the grower, the industry simply will not last.  

At St Remio we don’t just want to look after coffee growing communities, we want to celebrate them! They are the faces behind our coffee and our passion lies in sharing their stories and challenging consumers to really think about where their coffee is from and who it affects because each cup has an impact far greater than you could imagine. 

This year, we are excited to partner with UTZ which means you will start to see our products proudly display the UTZ logo which means complete transparency and traceability right back to the farm. We only source certified coffee and can confirm that growers receive an UTZ premium for their coffee as it is produced sustainably and in accordance to the UTZ standards, which they can use to reinvest in their farms, families and communities.  

The UTZ program supports farmers to run their farm in a successful way by supporting them to implement good farming practices. These practices improve the quantity and quality of their yield against lower input costs which increases their income, while providing good working conditions and looking after their environment. They receive a premium on top of the market price to reinvest in their farm and communities. Through training we develop awareness and understanding on issues like health and safety, the importance of education for children, gender equality, and climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. There are strict criteria for producers to meet in order to be part of the program. The end result is more exposure to international buyers, a sustainable crop which earns a higher yield and better support for these communities. 

UTZ is a global program and a label for sustainable farming of coffee. The UTZ program is part of the Rainforest Alliance, an international non-profit organization working to create a world where people and nature thrive in harmony and create a better future for people and nature by making responsible business the new normal. 

As part of our new partnership, this financial year (2019/2020) we at St Remio (with the support of you our customer) are funding a project for the female Co-operative of Cocagi. This year our new initiative will see St Remio purchase 4 hectares of land on behalf of the group alongside 12,000 new coffee plants and other seedlings (tree tomatoes, sunflowers, passionfruit and avocadoes) to help the Co-op diversify their income and ensure the land is bringing in income while the coffee plantations are being established. We will be sharing the development of this project with you throughout the year so you can be part of the journey and see how your support is having an impact at the source.  

To learn more about the awesome work of UTZ visit https://utz.org/  

By Julia Tink, Director St Remio.