Uganda - Kyondo
Tasting Notes: Sweet ripe red berries, dark chocolate, bright and fruity
Varietals: Various Heirloom Varietals, SL14 & SL28
Process: Natural, hand picked, sun dried
MASL: 1600 - 2000m
One of our personal favourites, this fruit bomb from Uganda has been sourced through Martin at social enterprise, Agri Evolve, whose son works on the coffee farms in the Rwenzori mountains in Uganda.
The farmers here typically have two acres of land and coffee is their main cash crop. They carefully select ripe cherries which are then transported to the Kisinga coffee station. The cherries are then floated, graded and dried under polytunnels to protect them from the rain. The coffee cherries are turned several times each day to ensure even drying and allowing them to mature and develop their full rich flavour. This takes about 20 days after which they are hulled onsite.
As well as producing exceptional coffee, Agri Evolve is committed to Uganda’s communities and environment and has launched the ACE 2030 project to positively impact the farmers, communities and environment where they live and work.
Agriculture is at the very heart of community in the Rwenzoris. Farming to produce food, and cash crops, is the main activity for 80% of the population. By encouraging an open and transparent market, provided training and support for farmers, Agri Evolve has created employment for many local people. Through their work with over 10,000 farmers and their families, they’ve channelled investment from overseas and transformed the infrastructure for coffee processing. By encouraging coffee farmers to be business focused, Agri Evolve has generated growth and opportunity throughout the local area. Coffee yields have improved in volume, but more importantly in quality. Prices paid to farmers are significantly higher than a few years ago. Wealth is being created which brings significant benefit to the farmer, their families and the whole community.
Through their community projects, Agri Evolve has also provided pit latrines for a local school, a water borehole in their local town, supported a local organisation providing craft training for young people who have dropped out of school, mentored youth teams and contributed to relief efforts following local flooding which destroyed homes and infrastructure.
