[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 108 (Monday, September 13, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  GOOD LUCK TO NATIONAL FEDERATION OF COFFEE GROWERS OF COLOMBIA WITH 
                        JUAN VALDEZ COFFEE SHOPS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 13, 2004

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, during the 1960s, I lived and worked in 
Colombia as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I was able to see first hand the 
resilience, business savvy and general gumption of the Colombian 
people. One of the sectors in Colombia that exemplifies the strength of 
Colombians is the Colombian cafeteros, or coffee farmers. Despite the 
roller coaster that is the world market of coffee prices, Colombian 
cafeteros have managed to excel and continue to produce the best coffee 
beans in the world. Decades ago, Colombian farmers joined together and 
formed the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia--a farmer 
owned and controlled organization that has worked tirelessly to improve 
the livelihoods of Colombian cafeteros.
  In the 1980s the Federation recognized the importance of marketing 
and created, what is now a pop icon, the Juan Valdez logo. Today, I 
would like to applaud the Colombian Coffee Federation for 
reinvigorating the Juan Valdez logo by opening up the first Washington, 
DC branch of Juan Valdez coffee shop, located in the Washington 
headquarters of the Organization of American States building. Selling 
directly to consumers will help the Colombian farmers earn more for the 
quality beans that they produce and help increase the standard of 
living of the cafeteros. Again, I would like to send a special 
``felicidades'' to the Federation for their work on behalf of Colombian 
cafeteros and wish them the best of luck with the Juan Valdez coffee 
shops.

                          ____________________