The Story of Neal Brown and the Brown & Co. Fresh Roasted Coffees
When I was a kid, way back in the 1960’s, my father, weary from all the political upheaval and the Vietnam War, decided to pack us all up and move out to the country. He found a run-down 400-acre dairy farm in the Okanogan Valley, and we began a new period in our lives as farmers.
As city slickers, we were unprepared for the level of hard physical labor involved in running a farming operation. Before long though, it became clear that the life of a farmer seemed a lot closer to what we were put on this Earth for. As stewards of the land, it felt good to walk the fields, drive the tractors, and care for the animals. Sadly it was a short period in our lives, because of the economic situation for small farmers. Within two years we were back to the city, with heavy hearts, and my fathers life savings up in smoke. It must be said though, that in that two years, we accumulated an enormous peace of mind that for me at least, lasts to this day.
Fast forward to present times. Guess what? Small farmers are still in peril, and more so than ever in coffee growing regions. The advent of multi-national corporations wielding enormous economic clout, has forced millions of small independent farmers from their lands. Coffee, the second largest commodity traded worldwide (after oil), has reached a crisis stage economically where workers are concerned.
My desire to do something that could help, led me to become a Fair Trade Certified coffee roaster.
My experience as a ‘coffee guy’ consists of a wide range of experiences. Starting as a Barista with the Mukilteo Coffee Company in 1987, then as an entrepreneur in 3 different small coffee operations, and followed by a nearly 4-year period as a marketing and sales manager for a local independent coffee roasting company. Recently, I’ve spent a fair amount of time as a media consultant for a number of coffee companies nationally, producing and directing promotional DVD’s and training products. As I interact with a wide range of people in the coffee business it’s becoming increasingly clear that Fair Trade products are gaining ground with consumers. More important than that though, it just feels good to ‘do good’, especially when it coincides with making great coffee! The great thing is, everyone is welcome to join in the journey, with nothing more than a cup of Fair Trade coffee as the price of admission!
Sincerely,
Neal V. Brown
When I was a kid, way back in the 1960’s, my father, weary from all the political upheaval and the Vietnam War, decided to pack us all up and move out to the country. He found a run-down 400-acre dairy farm in the Okanogan Valley, and we began a new period in our lives as farmers.As city slickers, we were unprepared for the level of hard physical labor involved in running a farming operation. Before long though, it became clear that the life of a farmer seemed a lot closer to what we were put on this Earth for. As stewards of the land, it felt good to walk the fields, drive the tractors, and care for the animals. Sadly it was a short period in our lives, because of the economic situation for small farmers. Within two years we were back to the city, with heavy hearts, and my fathers life savings up in smoke. It must be said though, that in that two years, we accumulated an enormous peace of mind that for me at least, lasts to this day.
Fast forward to present times. Guess what? Small farmers are still in peril, and more so than ever in coffee growing regions. The advent of multi-national corporations wielding enormous economic clout, has forced millions of small independent farmers from their lands. Coffee, the second largest commodity traded worldwide (after oil), has reached a crisis stage economically where workers are concerned.
My desire to do something that could help, led me to become a Fair Trade Certified coffee roaster.
My experience as a ‘coffee guy’ consists of a wide range of experiences. Starting as a Barista with the Mukilteo Coffee Company in 1987, then as an entrepreneur in 3 different small coffee operations, and followed by a nearly 4-year period as a marketing and sales manager for a local independent coffee roasting company. Recently, I’ve spent a fair amount of time as a media consultant for a number of coffee companies nationally, producing and directing promotional DVD’s and training products. As I interact with a wide range of people in the coffee business it’s becoming increasingly clear that Fair Trade products are gaining ground with consumers. More important than that though, it just feels good to ‘do good’, especially when it coincides with making great coffee! The great thing is, everyone is welcome to join in the journey, with nothing more than a cup of Fair Trade coffee as the price of admission!
Sincerely,
Neal V. Brown
