Grounds for Health, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cervical cancer prevention in coffee-growing communities, is celebrating three decades of impact with its annual green coffee and equipment auction returning September 23-24. For roasters and retailers, this event represents a meaningful opportunity to source traceable, high-quality beans while supporting women’s health initiatives at origin.

Three Decades of Impact in Coffee Communities

Since its founding, Grounds for Health has worked directly in coffee-growing regions to expand access to life-saving cervical cancer screening and treatment. The organization reports that over the past 30 years, its programs have screened more than 265,000 women and provided preventive treatment to more than 22,000 individuals. Today, the nonprofit operates active programs in Ethiopia and Kenya, where coffee production remains central to local economies.

The annual auction serves as a primary funding mechanism for this work. Since the auction launched in 2009, it has raised more than 1.05 million dollars. Last year’s event alone generated 28,424 dollars, demonstrating consistent support from the coffee industry.

What’s on the Auction Block This Year

The 2026 auction features a diverse lineup spanning multiple origins, processing styles, and lot sizes. A notable addition this year is the auction’s first offering from Vietnam, a 132-pound anaerobic natural-process robusta from Great Cherry in Dak Lak, donated by Crop to Cup. This lot carries an 86 cupping score and opens bidding at 5.75 dollars per pound.

Walker Coffee, a longtime auction supporter, is contributing three lots: a washed-process coffee from Antigua, Guatemala, a wet-hulled fair-trade-certified coffee from Sumatra, and a washed-process Kenya AA. Additional lots come from major coffee importers and producers including Balzac Brothers, Coffee Shrub, Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee, Genuine Origin, La Minita Coffee, InterAmerican Coffee, San Cristobal Coffee Importers, Sucafina, and Sustainable Harvest. Green coffees originate from Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Honduras, Rwanda, and beyond.

Beyond green beans, the auction includes specialty equipment such as a custom sample roaster from San Cristobal Coffee Importers. Organizers continue accepting donations through September 18, allowing additional lots to enter the catalog.

What This Means for Roasters and Retailers

For coffee professionals seeking ethically sourced, specialty-grade beans, this auction offers a direct path to standout lots while making a quantifiable difference. Every winning bid flows directly to cervical cancer prevention programs serving women in coffee-producing regions. The selection of lots typically ranges widely in size, origin, and processing method, accommodating roasters of different scales and flavor profiles.

Since coffee purchasing decisions increasingly reflect buyers’ values around sustainability and community impact, choosing quality beans from impact-driven auctions allows consumers and businesses to align their preferences with real-world health outcomes. Beyond the direct coffee purchase, participation in auctions like this reinforces industry investment in origin communities.

How the Auction Works

The online auction opens Wednesday, September 23, at noon Eastern Daylight Time and closes Thursday, September 24, at 6 p.m. EDT. Green coffee bidding is restricted to verified coffee companies, though international bidders may participate with prior approval. Winning bidders should note that shipping is typically not included in the hammer price for green coffee lots.

The auction structure allows roasters to explore microlots and specialty offerings that might not be available through standard purchasing channels. For those new to direct green coffee purchasing, participating in industry auctions provides transparency around sourcing and traceability, two increasingly important factors for conscious consumers evaluating coffee brands.

Supporting Communities Through Coffee

By participating in this auction, roasters and retailers send a powerful message: the coffee industry recognizes its responsibility to the communities that grow the beans it profits from. For 30 years, Grounds for Health has maintained that connection, and this annual event remains one of the most direct ways the industry channels support toward meaningful health interventions.

Whether you’re an established roastery or someone exploring higher-quality coffee options at home, understanding how specialty coffee auctions work and where industry profits flow creates informed purchasing power. The coffees offered through this auction represent both exceptional quality and a commitment to health equity in coffee-growing regions worldwide.