The term "Relationship Coffee" is applied to an approach to obtaining coffee that involves the development of trusting, working relationships between growers and roasters or importers.  This approach eliminates at least one middle man.  More important, good relationship coffee practices involve helping growers employ best practices in their growing and processing and to reinvest some of their income in continual growth and development.  When such relationships work, growers get a larger share of the income derived from sale of their coffee.  Customers get EXCEPTIONAL coffees!