Issues Covered

This review for verification is the initial such for Dean's Beans and the first for QAI and this inspector. The review consisted of a complete audit of all contracts for coffee and cocoa; all receipts of the materials, including waybills, transaction certificates, invoices, etc; the FLO Registry listing the producers who are supplying the green coffee beans and cocoa; and the Comprehensive Sustainability Program that is published and performed by Dean's Beans.

Every contract and every set of documentation for receipts clearly describes the items as Fair Trade sourced. Further, every producer shown in said documentation was a current FLO-certified producer and included on the Registry.

The FLO Registry is complete with Producer Coop name, contact person, address with phone, fax, email and website, federation name, organic status and certifier name, metric ton capacity, harvest periods and product details.

Every contract showed a total payment per pound to be $1.41 (Fair Trade). The payment included a greater than minimum, plus a "Social Equity Premium" of $0.06, which is paid based on pounds of coffee processed. The premium is made up of $0.05 to provide needed coop development assistance and added payment to the producers, and $0.01 Cooperative Development premium to defray Fair Trade participation and cooperative administration costs.

Dean's Beans also participates in a program called "People-Centered Development" and another program called "Community Advocacy". These programs are described in the attached narratives.

A website, www.cooperativecoffees.com, is a comprehensive site with links to every aspect of the Fair Trade trail. It provides an ultimate transparency to every producer, contract, payments and programs. The website is unique within the Fair Trade Arena.

Relevant Inspector Observations

Dean's Beans is 100% Fair Trade. Mr. Cycon has a deep-set belief in the concept and he advocates whenever possible. He expresses his issues with some of the large coffee concerns because they misrepresent their participation, having only a small percentage of their business in Fair Trade and they conceal their records where Dean's is open to public review. Also, Transfair, the US branch of FLO, has not been forthcoming on their activities and the use of the quota fees paid by the membership.

Relevant Inspector Observations (from the Organic Inspection)

I stated in my previous review that Dean's Beans is "an embodiment of the whole, true purpose and intent behind the organic movement". This current review served to confirm that statement. Additionally, as can be seen in the "Fair Trade Verification", Dean Cycon is a leading advocate for the poor producers and a strong voice in moving them towards some degree of equity.

This is a very impressive operation, small in facility and local employment, but huge in the impact they have on the producer's well-being.