PRODUCERS
METICULOUS CRAFTING FROM LAND, PRUNING, PICKING AND PROCESSING RESULTING IN MAGIC
KIARAGO ESTATE, KENYA
NJERU KIARAGO, MARTIN KIRIMI MOSES AND KIBAARA KIARAGO
Kiarago Estate was the first visited farm in Kenya during our UN related field trips. The first contact with the coffee trees and green beans was in 2010. We wished to help the producers introduce their coffee to the Nordic market. Transparency Trade and Transparent Pricing was born.
Located in Meru, Tharaka-Nithi County, Kiarago Estate is operated by Njeru Kiarago, Martin Kirimi Moses and Kibaara Kiarago. The farm was inherited from Njeru’s father who was a well respected police officer in the region. The soil is volcanic, deep red and orange. The location of the farm allows the coffee trees to develop spectacular aroma, fruit flavor and complex acidity.
FINCA DEBORAH, PANAMA
JAMISON SAVAGE
At an altitude of more than 1900 meters and nestled in the lofty mountains of Volcan, Chiriqui, Finca Deborah is a shade grown Geisha coffee cultivated in a pristine environment. It is one of the highest, most remote coffee farms in all of Panama and, at these altitudes, temperatures can drop to as low as 10 degrees Celsius during the night.
The extreme elevation and reduced temperature slows the growth pattern of the tree and forces the tree to expend more energy, thus creating a harder, denser bean. It is an extraordinary environment for growing any variety of coffee, but here at Finca Deborah one of the world’s most complicated varieties of coffee, Geisha, not only grows successfully but also thrives.
PASTO, NARIÑO, COLOMBIA
JORGE ESTEBAN GARZON AND JULIANA BRAVO BEDOYA
Southwest of Colombia, in the region Nariño and the village of Santa Ana, the production of high quality coffee is highly recognized. Work in the country side is very demanding due to technological underdevelopment. Roads are not fully paved. This makes life and mobilization in the country side very difficult. Transport rates are more expensive than in other regions of Colombia. Coffee growers have to move their own coffee from the farm to the cooperative for sorting and washing. The majority don’t have motorized transport and every single kilo must be moved by wheelbarrow.
Nariño is an area that has been hit by violence and drug trafficking for many years. Jobs are traditionally only available for men. Because of this situation, in time of milling and green bean selection, we work only with women from the country side. This establishes job opportunities during the harvest and sorting seasons.
MUNENE ESTATE, KENYA
MATE MUNENE
Meru is an agriculture-reliant economy. The area is endowed with a climate that is suited to production of many types of crops including coffee and tea. Dairy farming is also practiced in the area.
Producer, developer and project coordinator growing all organic and no chemical treated coffee. Processing is conducted with various varieties such as SL28 and Batian. Pulping is conducted at Kiarago Estate. Coffea Circulor donated the pulper in 2011. Since then, Kiarago is established as a washing station enabling farmers to bring their coffee and pulp it within reasonable range. This saves time, effort and above all finances in scarce areas.
TESTI COFFEE, ETHIOPIA
ADHAM YONIS
Testi Coffee supplies premium quality beans. A program diligently processes high quality beans to achieve zero defect. These coffees will be premium specialty coffees with premium price. We are excited to see how our work is expanding with mutual interests to improve and inspire the coffee industry.
Testi also runs Project Direct. In July 2016 a school opened for the people of Guji. In 2017 year a planned donation of 50,000USD will be issued from the profit. The initiative is formed to assist coffee farmers, their families and surrounding communities. Project Direct will help build schools and create a source for the community to have clean water supply. The goal of Project Direct is to create a difference to the producers of Ethiopian coffees, their families and the community by creating concrete, tangible contributions that make a difference. The ambition is to use the combined the force of exporters, importers and roasters to make this initiative even more fruitful.
KWOTI, UGANDA
DISON KARENG
An unexploited area at the moment with a farm elevated at 2,265 MASL, single origin owned by one farmer. This is the last coffee farm as one travels towards Mt. Elgon peak. What follows after this farm is a variety of trees and animal nature that has been gazetted as game reserve. This was the first pilot processing project which produced coffee beans with an excellent head start due to very high in density.
This project was backed by the Research Council of Norway.
MACHO ESTATE, KENYA
MICHEU OBADIAH
A pilot project analyzing ripe level, drying temperature and drying layer thickness sponsored by the Research Council of Norway. Greater quality means higher scoring coffee which brings a better price to the producer. It also a signifies quality, respect for the product and above all conveys a story and brings an experience from our common venture which we also look upon as an adventure.
Higher quality generates a greater market value among coffee consumers while conveying a story many are able to identify themselves with. In a world today where time is precious and people are more occupied with knowing what they eat and drink, this project is of high importance.
THAGEINI, KENYA
SMALLHOLDERS
The Thageini origin is Nyeri region located between the national parks Mount Kenya and Aberdare in Kenya. The Thageini factory is part of Aghuti Farmers Cooperative Society. We have worked in Kenya on coffee related matters since 2009 supplying farmers with capacity development and tools while improving their economy.
Here the coffee trees grow in Mount Kenya’s western mountains in mineral rich red volcanic soil. The coffee is processed at the Aguthi wet station. Our contribution to this region, farms and its producers is to provide growing and processing knowledge on the ground and customer feedback. This is achieved through frequent updates to agronomists, processing managers, millers and export managers by regular visits to Kenya.
