Producer profile: Birch Bark Coffee Company
Updated: Aug 1
When we began our relationship with Birch Bark Coffee Company in 2019 we were the only suppliers of BBCC in Thunder Bay! Now I see them on grocery store and gas station shelves and I'm thrilled that they've become a regular staple. When I first contacted BBCC to talk about selling their coffee, the owner Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow, wanted to speak to me in person. It was lovely to meet and share our vision for our businesses, and vet that they were truly aligned, but chatting (for an hour!) definitely added that personal flavour to our working relationship. I didn't realize what an impact that conversation would have on me. The level of integrity and transparency from that conversation has become the standard I set for my producer partnerships.
The product.
The mission behind Birch Bark Coffee Company was what stood out to me, but the quality of the product sealed the deal. This is GREAT tasting coffee. As a coffee connoisseur, I can preach.
Organic, fair-trade, small producer, indigenous Latin American cooperative farms, all those points had my little red n' black heart beating strong. But the good news story doesn't end there. Once those hand-picked beans make it up to Turtle Island, they are roasted, packaged and labeled by a nonprofit that helps individuals re-enter the workforce.
The Mission.
Birch Bark Coffee Company is dedicated to the supporting of clean water infrastructure in Canada for First Nation communities suffering systemic inequities. BBCC has created a fund that supports water infrastructure, education and mental health pathways towards self-sufficiency and community well-being. Clean water is such a huge issue to tackle by yourself, but this visionary entrepreneur started installing water filtration systems into individual homes. I love it. Don't wait for the system to change - just start. It is such an incredibly powerful inspiration. Proceeds from the coffee sales are building the Birch Bark Foundation Fund which is going towards empowering youth programs and sustainable efforts that go beyond emergency fixes. Mark Marsolais-Nahwegabow is a mentor that is inspiring the next generation of indigenous entrepreneurs. He is definitely an inspiration to me. And why is he so good looking?
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