Fermiers/Farmers: Matebe Berese & Kedemai co-op

Origin / Origine:  Guji & Agaro, Éthiopie

Altitude: ~2000 - 2200m

Procédé / Process: Naturel & Lavé / Natural & washed

Variétés: Variétés locaux / local varietals

Notes: compote d'airelles, chocolat au lait, clementine, gâteau vanille / lingonberry jam, milk chocolate, clementine, vanilla cake

A FESTIVUS, FOR THE REST OF US!

Remember that whole episode? The bagel shop strike ends & Kramer finally has a job again? He never thought he'd live to see raisin bagels. George creates "The Human Fund" to get out of gifting anyone & of course Frank Costanza shares Festivus with Kramer & Mr. Kruger to George's trepidation. The pole, the airing of grievances, & feats of strength...you know the jig. 

It's a classic from the 90's that we grew up with. If you haven't seen it, Netflix has it on now. We recommend you checking it out if you want a break from holiday hooplah.

Happy Festivus, Georgie!

ABOUT THE ORIGINS

Kedemai Cooperative (established 2018) is located 25km from Agaro town, and organized under the umbrella of the Kata Muduga Farmers Cooperative Union. Loans from the Cooperative Bank of Oromia and Kata Muduga allowed the 180 founding members of Kedemai to construct a washing station and purchase equipment. Within 2 years the cooperative was able to repay loans in full. Through the Kata Muduga system, 90% of the FOB price goes directly to the cooperative. Farmers (coop members) are paid cash upon delivery of cherry (avg 15 birr/kg in 2019), plus end of season bonus (1.5 birr/kg in 2019), plus member dividends based on coop-wide profit after operations/expenses. Kedemai and Kata Muduga have also donated funds to local school construction.

 The high altitude washing altitude washing station collects from 1,000-1,200 smallhodler farmers living nearby in this western part of the famed Guji Zone (part of the larger Oromia Region). The small village of Dogo sits 20km northeast of the larger town of Bule Hora. Some coffees here at the Dogo washing station go to washed while others go straight to the drying table for the natural processed lots. Farmers deliver to one of our lonstanding processing partners in Ethiopia (Oboleyan), who excel in QC from cherry collection all the way up to export milling. One unique payment program here allows a bonus to be paid to farmers during the rainy summer season (offseason, prior to next harvest). This contributes to better cash flow for farmers and allows farmers to prepare for the upcoming harvest season (labor, farm management, etc).