Farmer Brothers Invests in World Coffee Research Fund

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Farmer Brothers Co., a nationwide foodservice coffee roasting manufacturer and distributor, announced it will make a significant financial contribution to the World Coffee Research (WCR) fund over the next five years. Farmer Brothers President and CEO Michael Keown was recently appointed to the board of the fund, which is committed to protect and grow the global coffee supply chain.

"Farmer Brothers is proud to be a part of this collaborative organization that is leading the industry," stated Keown. "As a new member of the Board, I look forward to using this opportunity to help shape the vision for the research to be conducted."

The WCR was founded in 2009 and works to properly identify limitations and ensure responsible and successful productivity in the coffee industry. It is funded and driven by the global coffee industry, guided by producers, executed by coffee scientists around the world and managed by the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture of the Texas A&M University system, according to the announcement. Farmer Brothers was one of the founding members of the WCR and held the first chairman of the board position.

A main initiative of the WCR is improving coffee cup quality, raising consumers' standards for specialty and gourmet coffee. Little research has been conducted to understand and improve taste and consistency, and the WCR believes that increasing the number and combinations of taste attributes involved in overall cup quality is needed to increase taste profile offerings to consumers.

"Being a part of this organization and helping to lead this effort is Farmer Brothers' social responsibility as practitioners in the coffee industry," Keown added. "We're dedicated to protecting our resources and sources of origin while advancing research to improve consumers' perceptions of a great cup of coffee."

Farmer Brothers, based in Torrance, Calif., was founded in 1912 and is currently celebrating its milestone centennial. A manufacturer, wholesaler and distributor of a variety of high quality coffee, tea and culinary products to foodservice establishments and retailers nationwide, the company distributes through its direct-store-delivery network of 117 branches located across the country, and in third-party distribution partnerships as directed by its larger customers. Its primary brands include brands include Farmer Brothers, Superior, Metropolitan, Sierra, Cain's and McGarvey.

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