Ethiopia 2019 - 2020
I went to Ethiopia in early December.
Until a little while ago, the domestic situation was unstable, and I was checking safety until just before, but I was able to go safely.
The southern regions of Sidama and Yirgacheffe, where we mainly visited, had more rain and cooler temperatures than normal, and the harvest was delayed by 5 or 6 weeks, but it didn't seem to have any particular impact.
In Ethiopia, harvesting usually starts around October, but this year harvesting started in most areas from November to December.
Although the harvest volume is relatively low at one time, producers can spend more time sorting, so we can expect a fairly high quality and a rise in transaction prices.
Ethiopia's coffee supply chain was quite complicated with laws changing almost every year. However, in recent years, the export laws have changed.
Until now, only some organizations (or individuals) could export coffee, but now anyone can export coffee if they apply.
In other words, even on the buyer side, regardless of the size of the producer, it is now possible to purchase directly from the producer. This improves traceability.
Coffee plantations integrated with forests that do not require chemical fertilizers are common in Ethiopia.
Our goal for this season as Fuglen is to start working with a small number of certified organic farms. The small scale makes it easier to manage quality, and since you can talk directly with producers, you can build a strong relationship of trust.
I will go to Ethiopia again in mid-February to select and purchase coffee.
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