The Nespresso AAA Program differs from Fair Trade in that it seeks to find a long term balance between highest quality - which is the primary basis for the selection of our coffees - and social, environmental and economic criteria.
Although Fair Trade is an important initiative for some farming communities, after reviewing the needs of Nespresso we decided that we required a program tailor-made to fit our focus on quality. This program has been developed in close collaboration with the leading non-governmental organization, Rainforest Alliance. AAA farm assessments are independently verified by Rainforest Alliance.
Nespresso has been committed to ensuring that the communities of coffee farmers that produce the highest quality coffees for us benefit from the excellence of their crop. The aim of the AAA Program is to improve quality and sustainability practices on the farms and in the regions where the highest quality coffees are cultivated.
The AAA premium that Nespresso pays participating farmers is roughly 30-40% above the standard market price for coffee and 10-15% above coffees of similar quality. The program is about more than paying a premium; it is about building a long term relationship with coffee farmers.
More information can be found at www.nespresso.com/ecolaboration.
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