Coffee cherries in Quindío, Colombia

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It's Coffee Day. It's Coffee Day

These coffee cherries are from Colombia's 'Coffee Triangle,' where coffee trees flourish among some of the tallest palm trees you may ever see. The cherries take several months to mature. As they ripen, they change color from bright green to dark red. The dark red cherries are perfect for picking. Once the cherries are picked, the fruit surrounding the seeds (or 'beans') is removed, then the beans are cleaned and eventually roasted. Colombian coffee is regarded as some of the best in the world.

Today, on International Coffee Day, we're not only thinking about taking a sip of the most popular beverage in the world, but are also considering the farmers who make it all happen. In Colombia, about 500,000 families derive most of their income from growing coffee. They've been represented by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia since 1927. The organization helps contribute to sustainable development by creating trading partnerships that are better for the growers. Sounds like a balanced finish to us.