Higher Ground Organic, Fair Trade Coffee Review & Giveaway

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My husband has been a loyal Starbucks consumer for about four years now, so when I gave him the organic, fair trade coffee I had ordered from Higher Ground he was reluctant. He opened one of the bags and in no time the room was filled with that heavenly smell that tempts even non coffee drinkers such as myself. After grinding some beans and brewing them in his French press the moment of truth came. He loved it.

When I explained that the beans are grown organically in the shade of forest canopies by small family farmers throughout South and Central America, he was sold.


What does Fair Trade mean?

By purchasing Fair Trade beans you are supporting small, independent family farmers around the world. You can buy confidently, knowing that these farmers are being fairly compensated for their harvest and that your money is being reinvested into their communities.



Why Shade Grown?

The purest level of shade growing is categorized as "rustic" meaning that the coffee plants are grown under a natural canopy of an existing forest. Typically employed by small independent farmers, rustic shade growth methods coincide with natural vegetation instead of interfering with it, preserving and encouraging the plantation's natural biodiversity. Rustic plantations grow a wide variety of trees, typically averaging 25 species, and boast shade cover of 70-100%.

Shade growth makes it easier to farm the plants organically as it reduces the growth of weeds, encourages cross-pollination and protects from forms of infection.

Bottom line- shade growing promotes biodiversity, preserves the natural
ecosystem, produces healthier plants and, because the beans are allowed to
mature slowly, result in an overall better tasting cup of coffee.

Why Higher Ground?

Investing in quality coffee from Higher Ground roasters means investing in a socially responsible company. Your dollars will not only be reinvested in the communities that produced the coffee, but also communities and local causes around the US. Higher Ground offers many roasts that support certain charities and organizations such as The Mercy Corps Blend or The Appalachian Trail Blend. Higher Ground is also a member of 1% for the Planet, meaning that they have committed to give back at least 1% of their annual sales to environmental charities. They also use 100% recycled materials and biodegradable corn husk plastics wherever possible and donate their waste as compost to local farmers.


Win Higher Ground Coffee!

When The Spotted Apple Store launches in a few months you will be able to purchase Higher Ground Coffee from us on line. Until then you can purchase it directly from them by visiting http://www.highergroundroasters.com/.

But today you have the chance to win a bag!

Two readers will win a 12 oz. bag of Higher Ground's whole bean Mercy Corps Blend. This exotic dark roast is a blend of the best beans South and Central America have to offer resulting in a "bold and nutty, full bodied [taste] with a sweet finish." Our lucky winners will enjoy their morning cup of joe knowing that $0.62 of every bag goes directly to support the Mercy Corps' efforts to alleviate poverty and suffering in more than 30 countries around the world.

How to Enter:

* To enter simply leave a comment on this post telling how you would enjoy your cup of coffee. Please include your email address.


* For an additional entry, become a follower on my blog. Be sure to leave a second comment telling me that you did and include your email address again.

* Get another entry by telling someone about this giveaway! Whether you call your sister or blog about it- be sure to leave me another comment telling me and include your email address yet again. :)

***This giveaway is open to continental US residents only and ends on September 25th at 11:59 PM CST. Please be sure to check out my Giveaway Pledge under the Giveaway tab.

Good Luck!



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43 comments:

Anonymous said...

I subscribed to your blog. Welcome back!
clemery1@new.rr.com

Anonymous said...

I would have some in my big brown bear mug that I've had for years. Yum!

clemery1@new.rr.com

Kim said...

I'd give this as a gift to a girlfriend actually!

Anonymous said...

I am excited about this product. I am a coffee addict, and look forward to learning more about Higher Ground Organic coffee. I would love to enjoy a cup of coffee before starting my work day :)

Jenn Dodds

Carol W. said...

I would enjoy my coffee in the morning, in one of my two favorite mugs, and I'd drink it black to savor its flavor.

wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol W. said...

I follow your blog.

wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I would enjoy this coffee in my "new" thrifted mug ;)

Chris said...

We love FTO coffee (I'm drinking some right now)

solheich@uwec.edu

Amy said...

I would enjoy it sitting on my front deck watching the sun come up. The coffee with a hint of cream would be in my around the world coffee mug. Thanks!

Emily said...

I like mine with a bit of milk. Honey is good in there, too, believe it or not!

princesslimey (at) gmail (dot) com

pinecone304 said...

I would love it in our new mug we got from our recent trip to the Philippines. I love the fact that the coffee is free trade. After our recent trip to the Philippines, I saw first hand how important this is.

pinecone304 said...

I now subscribe to your blog on bloglines.

The Morgan Family said...

This would be so nice to try!
our.family.morgans@gmail.com

Jay said...

I would enjoy my coffee hiding from my family in the garage like any other perfect Sunday morning while watching football on tv.

I also subscribed to your blog via eamil. tro_away@.....

Unknown said...

I would enjoy it on a weekend morning with a Sunday paper to read. The perfect way to start the day!

pinenotebook(at)gmail(dot)com

valerie2350 said...

cream and sugar :)

sweeps4bloggers at gmail dot com

valerie2350 said...

follower

sweeps4bloggers at gmail dot com

PlainJame said...

Hopefully, I would enjoy a few cups with my husband, and our toddler would allow us to do so!

I love coffee, and I've felt a bit guilty about not purchasing organic very often, though many of my other grocery purchases are organic. Thanks for this contest.

Rebeca said...

I usually stop at (overpriced) starbucks because i know it's fair trade- so I'd enjoy this on my metro commute gladly!

Laura said...

We also use a French press for our coffee. Ours only makes two cups, so it's the perfect size for small batches.

Jenn said...

I would enjoy it while watching my twins play :)

eclairre said...

I put two artificial sweeteners and half-in-half in my cup o joe!

Shawna said...

I'm very interested in trying this product. I would enjoy my cup of coffee pretty soon after waking up in the morning. I'd drink it with a little bit of milk and sweetner.

ShawnaMichelle@ymail.com

Shawna said...

I became a follower.

ShawnaMichelle@ymail.com

Shawna said...

I told my Mother in Law about the coffee and the giveaway.

ShawnaMichelle@ymail.com

Unknown said...

I would love to win this! I love love love coffee!!

mellisarock at yahoo dot com

bison61 said...

I get up early so I can enjoy my coffee and read the paper in quiet

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

silverhartgirl said...

i would drink itin the morning while reading the paper and getting Cheerios thrown at me
silverhartgirl at gmail.com

Christie said...

I would enjoy my cup in the morning, strongly brewed, lightened with almond milk, and liberally sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice! :)

Christie said...

I follow your blog

christie(at)theweathersfamily(dot)com

Bombtastic Belle said...

I'd give it to my husband, he loves coffee, and he always drinks it out of the same extra large mug in the mornings. *lol*
eod_army_wife04(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I have a mug of coffee each morning while I do my routine to get me going for the day!!! :)

da_angel_321@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I'm a follower now :)

da_angel_321@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I'm telling my mom and two great friends about this giveaway...everyone needs coffee right?

da_angel_321@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I love coffee, the smell it makes when it brews and the taste.
Virginia
mkranak@yahoo.com

JC said...

I like it dark. A hot cup of coffee in the morning to kick off a good day!

JC said...

Blog follower!arrate

denise said...

since the weather is getting chillier, this would be great on a cool fall day, wrapped up in a blanket.
qwaszx024 at gmail dot com

denise said...

I follow
qwaszx024 at gmail dot com

Sarah Z said...

I would love some splenda and cream in my coffee sitting on the back porch!
Thanks
Sarah
believedreamcourage (at) gmail.com

Sharon said...

Thank you for entering mw in your giveaway. I love a cup of good coffee and my honey is my personal barista :) In the morning is when I like my coffee.

Sharon

Anonymous said...

I would put French Vanilla Coffee Mate in it. My hubby would drink it black.
digicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net

Jennai said...

I enjoy my coffee strong and black!
HobartsMama at AOL.COM

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