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Reunion Island Coffee announced that a Rainforest Alliance and Organic certified coffee from Peru has won the company's summer Seasonal Harvest Award. This award recognizes rare and exceptional quality coffees that have been grown in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

The coffee is an exotic offering from Peru's Altomayo region, located in the upper Amazon basin. Company president Peter Pesce explains the appeal of these beans: "The pristine condition of the region lends to the pure, clean taste of the cup. Roasted to a medium-dark color, it has a bright profile with notes of toasted nut."

Reunion Island has chosen to award this Rainforest Alliance Certified organic coffee as part of its continued commitment to socially responsible products and environmental conservation. Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee comes from farms that have met the organization's holistic standards, which include ecosystem conservation, wildlife protection and dignified working conditions, among other things. As a result of certification, farm owners can often command a premium price and also have better market access.

"Consumers can enjoy Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee knowing it was produced in a way that conserves biodiversity, protects wildlife and supports farm workers with dignified housing, healthcare and education for their children," said Sabrina Vigilante, senior marketing manager in the Rainforest Alliance's sustainable agriculture program. "Reunion Island is demonstrating that environmental and social sustainability is part of the total quality equation."

Reunion Island carries a full line of organic coffees and is in the process of adding more Rainforest Alliance Certified products. "We've offered organic coffees for a number of years, but demand for these products has exploded in the last 12 months," Pesce explains. The company predicts that consumer demand for organic and sustainable coffees will continue to grow in the years ahead.

Rainforest Alliance Peru Organic is the latest coffee being highlighted as part of Reunion Island's feature coffee program. According to marketing VP Robin White, "By regularly promoting a new exotic feature coffee, OCS operators are positioning themselves as the coffee experts in their market." He also observed that introducing a coffee with a great story every quarter gives sales reps a good reason to call back on their prospects repeatedly and increase their close rate.

Rainforest Alliance Peru Organic is available in single-cup coffee pods, portion packages and 5lb whole bean. For OCS operators, the company provides a free promotional material kit including posters, tent cards, invoice stuffers and description cards. For more information, visit the company's recently updated website at www.reunionislandcoffee.com or contact Tim Cook at (613) 552-8455 or by e-mail at tcook@ricoffee.com.