TORONTO, March 16, 2004  – York University and Timothy’s World Coffee today announced an agreement that will make York’s own brand of certified sustainable coffee available in 140 Timothy’s World Coffee locations across Canada.

Dr. Lorna Marsden, president and vice-chancellor of York University, and Becky McKinnon, president of Timothy’s World Coffee, made the announcement at a special event on York’s Keele Campus attended by special guests and the media.

Las Nubes brand coffee will be sold in Timothy’s World Coffee stores and will be featured as coffee of the month in April. Las Nubes will also be available on York University’s Keele Campus in participating dining halls and college residences. Timothy’s has also agreed to donate $1 per pound sold to the York University Foundation to support York’s sustainability research in the region.

Becky McKinnon and Lorna Marsden sample Las Nubes coffee.

"This exciting and innovative collaboration by York’s Faculty of Environmental Studies and the farmers of the Las Nubes region is a marvellous example of sustainability in action," said Dr. Marsden. "We are proud that consumers here on campus and in Timothy’s World Coffee stores across Canada will have the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the environment and social justice by drinking York’s own brand of coffee."

"We are very excited about this relationship with York University," said McKinnon. "We strive to educate our consumers about the link between good growing practices and great tasting coffee. Las Nubes demonstrates how high quality coffee can be produced in a way that is socially and environmentally responsible and economically sustainable."

"Timothy's has set a wonderful example of corporate generosity. Their innovative support will help York's talented faculty and students and have an impact beyond Canada's borders," said Paul Marcus, president, York University Foundation.

Las Nubes brand coffee, grown on farms adjacent to York’s Las Nubes Rainforest in southern Costa Rica, is the product of a joint effort by researchers from York University’s Faculty of Environmental Studies working with the Tropical Science Centre in Costa Rica and the local growers’ cooperative. The coffee is certified sustainable by Costa Rica’s Ministry of Agriculture as grown in an environmentally, economically and socially responsible way. Producers employ methods that meet government standards for preserving the structure and function of the ecosystem, fair labour practices and bring a fair-trade price, or better, for the crop.

"In addition to being a model of sustainable enterprise, Las Nubes coffee is a real-life application of sustainability concepts. It also supports research which focuses on biodiversity conservation and rural sustainability in southern Costa Rica," said York professor Howard Daugherty, Director of the Fisher Fund for Neotropical Conservation.

The Las Nubes Rainforest was donated to York University by Toronto physician Dr. Woody Fisher in 1998. The Faculty of Environmental Studies established the Fisher Fund to support research and community action programs in sustainability. A portion of the proceeds from sales of Las Nubes coffee is directed back into conservation research through the York University Foundation to the Fisher Fund which works in collaboration with the Costa Rica’s Tropical Science Centre and the farmers’ cooperative.

Timothy’s World Coffee opened its first store in 1975 and was a pioneer in the North American specialty coffee industry. Customers who share their passion for great coffee have helped Timothy’s World Coffee grow to 140 stores across Canada.

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