May 2nd, 2018

United By Blue, Race Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA

On May 2nd, our Pennsylvania team hosted its third Defend Our Coffee of the spring semester at United By Blue Coffee Shop in Old City, Philadelphia. As part of its sustainability-focused business model, United By Blue has committed itself to removing a pound of trash from the Delaware watershed for every dollar gained in profit. Participating on the panel were United By Blue café manager Lisa Brayda, Franny Lou’s Porch’s Blew MaryWillow Kind, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia member and Temple University Professor of Biology and Conservation Ecology Dr. Joceyln Behm, Philly Fair Trade Coffee Roasters’ Adam Lees. The discussion covered many aspects of the coffee industry including an explanation of the harvesting, preparation, and roasting processes; the ecological impacts of climate change; and a discussion on the specific threats to the coffee plant including the borer beetle and coffee rust.