"DRINK MORE COFFEE!": PEAPOD TEAMS UP WITH NON-PROFIT SINGING ROOSTER TO AID HAITIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

“Drink More Coffee!” is the mantra-of-the-day at leading online grocer Peapod thanks to an exciting new partnership with Singing Rooster, Inc. Singing Rooster is a non-profit organization that sells 100% Haitian-grown coffee to benefit the Haitian economy, which is still reeling from the effects of the devastating earthquake in 2010. Now, Peapod customers can enjoy gourmet, free trade coffee while supporting the recovering Haitian economy. All proceeds from Singing Rooster coffee sales return directly to the Haitian farmers, and for every bag of Singing Rooster coffee purchased on Peapod.com, Peapod will donate $1 to the Red Cross Haitian Relief Fund.

“At Peapod, we are always striving to meet our customers where they are by sourcing and delivering the products they want – organic produce, locally-raised beef, sustainable seafood – groceries that are not only good for you, but are good for the planet, too,” says Tony Stallone, Peapod’s VP of Fresh Markets. “Singing Rooster Haitian Coffee is a perfect example of the kind of company Peapod loves to partner with. They offer a fantastic-tasting product while doing good, a value that we love and so do our customers. We are glad to raise money for the Haitian recovery effort through this relationship, so drink more coffee.”

On Jan. 12, 2010, a 7.0 earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti. Despite billions of dollars in humanitarian aid, the Haitian economy has not recovered. To promote economic development, Wisconsin-based non-profit Singing Rooster, Inc. partners with small scale, farmer-owned cooperatives to help cultivate and process high quality, gourmet Haitian coffee. Singing Rooster then buys and exports the coffee crops at premium prices and creates new markets for them: roasted coffee, green coffee beans for home or commercial roasters, fundraising with coffee, and wholesale coffee to commercial roasters, cafes and stores. It’s the creation of a direct farmer-to-table model for rural communities.

“We work with really small farmer groups and pay well above fair trade for crops, then transform them into roasted coffee for farmer benefit,” says Molly Nicaise, CEO of Singing Rooster. “By purchasing Singing Rooster coffee through Peapod, you are helping Haiti’s economy rebuild stronger and more self-sustaining than it was even before the quake.”

Haitian coffee is a classic Caribbean blend that has a chocolaty sweet taste with mellow citrus highlights. Singing Rooster Haitian Coffee will be available to Peapod customers in Chicago, New York, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. To order, visit www.peapod.com, and search “Singing Rooster.”

For more information on Singing Rooster, Inc., please visit www.singingrooster.org.