Bethesda, Md.-based Honest Tea, an independent operating unit of The Coca-Cola Co., released its 2013 Mission Report as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to be transparent about its business practices and its mission “to seek to create and promote great-tasting, healthier, organic beverages.”

There aren’t many months that I enjoy more than October. There’s a chill in the air that allows me to bring out my favorite sweaters and sweatshirts from the closet, but it’s not too cold to prevent me from enjoying all the seasonal activities. But October is more than fun fall festivities.

This October, Waterbury, Vt.-based Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (GMCR) will celebrate Fair Trade Month with its “Great Coffee, Good Vibes, Choose Fair Trade” integrated awareness campaign. In partnership with music artist Kelly Clarkson, the campaign aims to educate and encourage consumers to purchase Fair Trade Certified products.

Chameleon Cold-Brew added three flavors to its line of cold-brewed coffee, which is made from certified organic and Fair Trade Arabica coffee beans.

Tea Forté Inc. launched its new line of Tea Forté Skin-Smart Teas, developed to promote healthy skin from within, the company says. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic and Fair Trade certified teas are blended to further the detoxifying effect of polyphenols to fight the visible signs of skin aging, the company adds. 

Maine Root, Portland, Maine, has evolved a lot since the day 11 years ago when Founder Matthew Seiler decided to brew his own organic soda. Seiler was restoring boats on the waterfront in Portland, Maine, in the summer of 2000 when a high school friend opened up Flat Bread Pizza Co., an organic pizza company, just a few wharfs down from where Seiler was working. Seiler was hired by his friend to build the clay oven and stayed on to wait tables. But Seiler realized that the organic restaurant didn’t have the beverages to match, so that’s when he went home and mixed up his own batches of root beer.