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Short answer: No. Long answer from their website FAQ: We believe the best approach to address the long-term issues facing coffee growers is through a βcoffee sustainabilityβ program. Although fair trade programs are admirable we decided against buying fair trade coffee and developing a program that works directly with the growers. The fair trade program requires certification on behalf of the farmers which is an expense they cannot usually afford plus it provides a price that has no relation to the quality of the coffee. Under the pilot program technical assistance will be provided to teach proper pruning techniques, fertilization, irrigation and the effective use of coffee processing stations. As part of the technical training being provided to the farmers in the project area, demonstration plots have been established and are used to teach best practices in pruning, fertilizing etc. In 2005, we launched a sustainable coffee partnership pilot project to make a meaningful contribution in the fight against poverty amongst the people who are an integral part of the coffee industry. We also wanted to play a meaningful role in providing for the future supply of quality green coffee. The initial pilot project in Guatemala touches approximately 1,000 small coffee producers and their families and is intended to directly improve the living conditions of about 5,000 people. Under the program small coffee producers are being provided with technical support and training to help them increase the amount and quality of coffee they produce. Assistance is being provided to them to get their coffee to market, at the best time and for the best price, while emphasizing the need to respect and protect the environment. The program aims to improve the social conditions of the farmers and their families by identifying and addressing the pressing needs of the families, especially youth education. In 2006, we launched two additional sustainable coffee projects, one in Colombia and one in Brazil, with the result that these programs now touch the lives of approximately 9000 people. With this new and innovative program, Tim Hortons is helping to improve the living conditions of thousands of small coffee farmers and their families. More importantly, we believe that Tim Hortons will set an example for the rest of the coffee industry and showcase how coffee can be produced in a sustainable way based on strong partnerships within the supply chain.
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