Section: Larry's Beans

Larry's cows { larger image }

Tucked away in a modest building in Raleigh, NC, Larry's Beans is making the world a better place through America's favorite drink: coffee. Larry's Beans slow roasts fair trade, organic, and shade grown coffees, in small batches. Larry's not only makes a great bean, they make a difference.

Employee lounge? { larger image }

Larry's Beans purchases coffee directly from small family farm coops. They purchase our beans at a price that is fair to all parties. Annually they visit their producers to discuss mutual progress and exchange ideas of how to strengthen their relationship. They see firsthand how their relationship literally changes communities and eventually the world around us, in the form of newly constructed schools and healthcare clinics.

Artisan coffee { larger image }

Back in July of 2007, Perfect Flavor visited Larry's in Raleigh, to see firsthand how they approach the competitive coffee market, but still managed to win the 2006 North Carolina Sustainability Award for triple bottom line business. Maybe it's as simple as Larry's mission statement:

Larry's Beans mission is to fill the consumer's cup with the highest quality Fair Trade, Shade Grown and Organic coffee.

But Larry's manages to put the whole package together in a fun, hip, and educational brand. And with an ethical dimension that we admire.

Larry's roasting plant { larger image }

Beans in the roaster { larger image }

Perfect Flavor uses Larry's Beans for our gourmet coffee ice cream, sorbets, and gelatos. If we lived a little closer, we might even stop in to fill 'er up. Larry's operates the only Biodiesel 100 distribution point in Raleigh, brewed locally at Piedmont Biofuels.

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