Pepper for a Cause
By: Leah Rodrigues
Published: June 16, 2011

The Pepper Project is a non-profit organization founded by Cris Peterson and Tom Gordon.  Their dream is to build a market for Cambodian products in the United States, starting with kampot pepper.  This pepper plant is indigenous  to Cambodia and is protected by geographical indication.  This means that any peppercorn advertised as kampot must be grown from that region.  Kampot pepper has an intense aroma and flavor.  According to the website, the farmers grow the pepper plant organically and each pouch can be traced back to the grower.
This project is designed to help Cambodian farmers reestablish themselves after the devastating civil war 30 years prior.  During that time, pepper crops were destroyed to make way for rice crops.  Now, a new generation of pepper farmers are returning to their families land to cultivate pepper once again
The project is currently working with other fair trade non-profits such as Daughters of Cambodia and the International Princess Project.  Both projects reach out to former victims of sex-trafficking and teach them skills so that they can achieve a higher quality of life.  The Pepper Project participates by purchasing pouches, messanger bags, and punjammies (pajamas from India).  For more information on the project, recipes, or to purchase items, visit the website.

Comments:
Jim Armstrong
June 18, 2011

They can use all the help they can get.  I thought that Viet-Nam was "poor" but, it's like Congressional Country Club compared to Cambodia.  A friend of mine just came back from a 2 week tour of VN & Cambodia.  His videos and photos showed stark pictures of a Cambodian people living unbelievable filth and squalor.  They get their drinking water from open pools that they share with the cattle!  Trash littered the landscape as far as the eye could see.  It appeared that the beggars outnumbered the rats in the "urban" areas.  I don't know how effective the Pepper Project will be in turning their economy around but, at least, it's a start in the right direction.  Something is always better than nothing.  I applaud you guys.  Go for it!
tom

Jim, I doubt we will turn the economy of Cambodia around.  But when we asked a hardworking farmer of Kampot pepper how we could help him, he replied: "Sell our pepper in your nation." Why not.  We are small.  Any profits go back to the Daughters of Cambodia,  group that saves girls from the sex trade in Phnom Penh. The pepper is really unique and you won't find much better prices anywhere.  Thanks for your kind words.  Check out the website or our facebook page.