Other Certifications
it's what's inside that counts
We are proud to be SQF Level 2 Certified, Rainforest Alliance Certified and UTZ CERTIFIED, in addition to our well-known Fair Trade and USDA Organic certifications.
SQL Level 2 - Safe Quality Food Institute
SQF certification provides assurance that a product, process or service complies with regulatory, international and scientifically proven standards for safety. In addition to its focus on food safety, SQF allows suppliers to demonstrate their excellence in adhering to the highest quality standards of handling, preparation and processing.
For more information on the SQF Level 2 certification program, please visit www.sqfi.com
“As our company continues to expand throughout the country, our SQF certification will assure customers that Paramount is a conscientious, reliable supplier with a strong and credible food safety management system.” Steve Morris, chief operating officer, Paramount Coffee Company.
rainforest alliance
Rainforest Alliance certification focuses specifically on the forestry aspect of coffee production. The program ensures and promotes the growth and protection of the rainforests, while helping to improve the agriculture and well being of the farmers.
More than 25 million people in the tropics depend on coffee, a crop that is the economic backbone of many countries and the world's second most traded commodity after oil. Coffee is farmed on about 12 million hectares (30 million acres) worldwide, an area larger than Portugal and nearly the size of England. Most of the farms are in areas regarded as high priorities for conservation. In 1993, the Rainforest Alliance and its partner groups in the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) demonstrated that traditional, forested coffee farms are havens for wildlife. (From the Rainforest Alliance website: http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/work/agriculture/coffee
For more information on the Rainforest Alliance certification program, please visit www.rainforest-alliance.org
utz certified
UTZ, meaning "good" in the Mayan language, is the inspiration for the UTZ CERTIFIED Good Inside coffee certification program. With the growing interest in quality coffee throughout the world, it is only natural that interest would grow not only in taste, but also in the conditions in which the coffee itself was grown. From the soil from which plants sprout, to the facility where the beans are roasted, UTZ CERTIFIED certification ensures that the coffee adheres to the required "code of conduct." The code outlines standards for record-keeping, minimized and documented use of agrochemicals for crop protection, protection of labor rights and access to health care and education for employees and their families.
For more information on the UTZ CERTIFIED Good Inside program, please visit www.utzcertified.org
