"10 Questions With......"
Grace Bland & Lyle Mufford
Owners and operators of Strait Coffee
September, 2010 Interview

What do you enjoy about living and working on the Sunshine Coast?

I have lived here since 1991, and Lyle since 1989. We enjoy being part of the community, knowing our customers, being able to support local events and feel like we’re making a difference in our community... and who doesn’t want to belong?

Why is operating in a sustainable way important to Strait Coffee?

We enjoy the beauty of the Georgia Strait every day and we try to do our part to protect the beautiful environment that we live in. That’s why shade grown, Fair Trade, organic coffees appeal to us. We locally roast all of our coffee beans right here on the Coast at our roasting facility in Wilson Creek. We further reduce our negative impact on the environment through the use of our biodegradable bags and other sustainable initiatives. It’s just the right thing to do.

Foil-based coffee bags are a large environmental problem. Tell us about Strait Coffee’s innovative packaging initiative.

As part of our effort to reduce our environmental footprint, we are using bags that are printed with water based inks and lined with a corn based polymer (PLA) that are biodegradable and compostable.

What percentage of Strait Coffee is organic?

About 85%

Why is organic coffee healthier for people and the planet?

There are many benefits to growing and drinking organic coffee. Fertile soil is naturally replenished and maintained without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are kept out of the eco system. The absence of these chemical fertilizers and pesticides lowers toxins in the air, soil and water supply. Drinking organic coffee provides you with a variety of antioxidants and is a natural energy booster.

Does organic coffee taste better?

Yes, you can taste the difference in organic coffees. Richer, stronger, and purer. Organic coffee draws its natural nutrients from the soil and not from added chemical fertilizers.

Strait Coffee was among the first businesses in Canada to become Fair Trade certified. Why is Fair Trade certification important?

Fair Trade certification helps to promote the fair treatment of small farmers and workers, ensuring them healthy living conditions and a sustainable economic future. It’s about seeing coffee workers enjoy a decent standard of living and not exploiting child labour. It’s simply about being fair to people.

What percentage of Strait Coffee is shade-grown?

About 75%

Why is shade-grown coffee healthier for people and the planet?

The growing demand for shade-grown coffees helps to preserve the equatorial rain forest. Shade Grown coffee reduces pesticide use and protects bird habitat. By planting coffee in the understory of a natural forest, birds are attracted to the farm and eat most insect pests that would have had to be killed with pesticides. Also, because the shade controls weed growth, herbicides are not needed. Finally, the slower growth of the coffee results in a denser, higher quality bean and better tasting coffee.

For those interested in reducing or re-using packaging, where on the Sunshine Coast do you retail Strait Coffee in bulk?

Bulk is available at all four Wheatberries locations, both Marketplace IGA locations (Gibsons, Madeira Park), and at Claytons Heritage Market. One pound packages are available at IGA Wilson Creek, IGA Gibsons, and at Claytons.

More information about Strait Coffee......

Come and visit the Strait Coffee Café located in the Wilson Creek Plaza. We have experienced baristas who will make your drink the way you like it. We serve fresh sandwiches, homemade soups and fresh baked goods all made from scratch using all natural ingredients. We also retail all of our freshly roasted coffees at the cafe or you can find our fresh roasted beans for sale at various locations throughout the Sunshine Coast. Straight from Strait, it's worldly in the west.