Sweetwater Organic Coffee is Florida’s first and only certified organic Fair Trade roastery. Established last April in Gainesville East, Sweetwater’s founders Chris Neumann and Nora Edison both hail from New York City and Hudson Valley areas with deep expertise and passion in specialty coffee.

Cooperative Coffees sources their beans from 23 different farmer cooperatives and is part of an organization of 24 coffee roasters that promotes fair trade practices. Fair Trade doesn’t just guarantee farmers a minimum price per pound – it also helps develop their farms for improved health care, education and environmental stewardship.

Tripp Pomeroy, who purchased Sweetwater in December and took over ownership in March 2019, hopes to take this concept one step further. He wants Gainesville residents to meet those responsible for growing their coffee in more tangible ways such as inviting growers directly to town for events where customers can meet them and ask any questions directly. He plans on following in the footsteps of Cafe Campesino, its sister roastery in Americus Georgia which does something similar.