As Green As It Gets

As Green As It Gets was a nonprofit “economic development organization supporting small, independent producers in disadvantaged Guatemalan communities.” The founder was an American named Franklin Voorhes. As Green As It Gets sponsored a collective of 18 farmers and by 2008 had expanded its efforts into the jewelry and textiles businesses, as well as reforestation programs. Voorhes felt that the organization had begun to gain some traction. But despite the organization’s successes, Voorhes still had some major questions related to its future. For one, he wondered how to balance supply and demand of coffee while growing As Green As It Gets. He also worried about organizational sustainability since As Green As It Gets relied heavily on his knowledge, relationships, and experiences. Finally, he worried about financial sustainability, since all the money made went straight to the coffee farmers and artisans.