International coffee importers supporting their hometown lake
NPLSF supporters Andrew and Kristen Miller understand the importance of sustainability and are committed to doing their part—internationally and at home.
As the founders and owners of Café Imports, a coffee importing business, the Millers were early proponents of fair trade, organic coffee. For thirty years they’ve supplied coffee beans to thousands of independent roasters, ensuring growers get a fair price for their product.
While their business is international in scope, Andrew and Kristen are also committed to the Midwest, where they have raised their family.
“I’ve always been drawn to Lake Superior,” says Kristen, who grew up in Wisconsin and now lives in Minnesota. “In order for us to keep it wild and keep it clean we want to do what we can.”
The Millers contribute in many ways. Café Imports is a long-time sponsor of NPLSF’s Lake Superior Podcast, the family donates generously, and Andrew joined the Board of Directors in 2023.
Protecting Lake Superior’s water, wildlife habitat, and culture aligns with the Millers’ values—so does Decarbonize the Parks, a NPLSF-led initiative to help Lake Superior’s five national parks move off fossil fuel.
In 2008 the Millers helped make Café Imports carbon neutral, a challenge for a company that moves containers of coffee from Columbia, Brazil, and Ethiopia to destinations around the country.
“We did an audit where they looked at all the carbon that we emitted as a company. People driving to work, the ships coming in, the trucks going out, the airplanes, everything,” Andrew said.
The company has planted more than 14,000 trees to offset their carbon and when the International Coffee Convention was held in Minneapolis, they made sure that event carbon neutral too.
As NPLSF moves forward on its decarbonization efforts, habitat improvement, education initiatives, and other projects we greatly appreciate Andrew and Kristen’s commitment to our lake and our future. Thank you!
###
About The NPLSF
The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation (NPLSF) exists to provide financial support for projects and programs that preserve the natural resources and cultural heritage of the five Lake Superior national parks: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Grand Portage National Monument, Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Funded through grants and private donations, NPLSF projects and programs ensure that these great parks and historic sites are maintained for the enjoyment of all current and future visitors.
To learn how you can support our work visit nplsf.org/donate.