Farmer Development and TrainingSustainable Harvest is committed to conducting business in a way that benefits the people and environment in which coffee is grown. As a result, Sustainable Harvest invests a large portion of its operating margin in coffee farmer development programs. Through farmer training and support, Sustainable Harvest impacts over 180,000 coffee farmers in thirteen countries. Kigoma, Tanzania Coffee Promotion Project: In late 2006, Sustainable Harvest embarked on a three-year project to help the farmers surrounding Gombe National Park produce and export consistently high quality coffee. Through daily agronomy training, infrastructure development, and improved technology, this project has doubled the incomes of coffee farmers in the region and provided them with long-term relationships with coffee buyers. For program highlights as of December 2008, click here. Gombe Tree Planting Project: Sustainable Harvest is planting 60,000 trees in the coffee growing communities of Kigoma District, Tanzania, directly outside of the Gombe National Park. As coffee is one of few cash crops that can grow under a shaded canopy, this project will contribute to the biodiversity of the region while improving coffee quality and conserving soils.
Let’s Talk Coffee™: Let's Talk Coffee™ is the annual training event founded and supported by Sustainable Harvest. Now in its seventh year, Let’s Talk Coffee™ is the hallmark of Sustainable Harvest’s Relationship Coffee model. Mexico Dry Mill Training: In 2007-2008, Sustainable Harvest worked closely with four cooperatives who jointly purchased a dry mill in Oaxaca, Mexico. Sustainable Harvest supported the farmers in securing the financing to purchase the mill and also taught the new staff how to operate the mill. Sustainable Harvest brought an expert from Colombia for one week of intensive training in mill administration and management. Sustainable Harvest staff provided training in tracking systems and management of certified coffees, shipping and export logistics, quality control, and more. The Last Mile Initiative: In 2006, Sustainable Harvest had a USAID contract in Rwanda to create stronger market linkages for the growers of the PEARL project. Sustainable Harvest created a website and multimedia training materials about the cooperative, and in doing so, created more transparency for roasters and consumers to learn about the Rwandan Karaba coffee. |
