Rwanda Janja Hill
When we bring in a new coffee, we're making a commitment. We're committing to the coffee growing community for several harvests to come, and we're promising that we've fully vetted the the process through a human, financial, and ethical lens. With that said, we couldn't be more proud to introduce our first ever Rwandan coffee offering from 13 smallholder producers near Janja Hill. Our new friends at Sundog Trading imported this coffee for us, with this being the first year that Baho (Processing Facility Owners) has isolated coffees from these producers near Janja Hill. Sundog plans to fully support this project for years to come, and we're excited to do our part to see these producers and their community grow for the long haul.
Emmanuel Rusatira, who owns Baho Coffee in Rwanda, is a pillar in the Rwanda coffee sector and is paramount to the success of the Janja Hill lot. Emmanuel has built up Baho, which means live/life in their local language, to facilitate and process high quality coffee, but, even more so, he's structured Baho to empower people. Accordingly so, Baho-owned washing stations provide training, transportation of coffees from farm to Baho, seedlings, fertilizer, and even contributions toward health insurance premiums to all farmers delivering cherries to Baho.
Rwanda has a highly commercialized coffee sector which can often lead to a majority of funds making their way out of Rwanda and into the hands of multinational companies. Unlike those companies, Emmanuel is directly invested in the people of Rwanda. The Janja Hill Lot is Rwandan coffee from Rwandan people, and thanks to Baho, with the outcome of more funds finding their way into the hands of hardworking and often exploited smallholder farmers.
This lot is also a testament to the diligence and faithfulness of Sundog Trading, who have been working with Rwandan producers and washing-station owners for several years now. Sundog has even developed a program of their own called "Farmer First Premium Program". They've done this to counteract the often unethical coffee system and to put the power and the funds into the hands of the producers. Risk is faced at every stage of a business, but the greatest risk and compromises are often made at the farm level at the expense of hard working and humble producers. With people like Emmanual from Baho and the team at Sundog, we can see our way to a more ethical future in the coffee industry.
*13 Janja Hill Producers Contributing to this year's Muzo Janja Hill Lot:
Faustin Nshimyimana, J. Bosco Zirimwabagabo, Laurent Karina, Cyprien Manirafasha, Felecien Biyifuye, Theoneste Gakoza, Daphrose Mujawamariya, Philipe Nsinzimihigo, Edouard Ruhamiriza, Berinadete Mukeshimana, Aphrodis Hategekimana, Zephanie Byago, Vincent Hafashimana
Please Note: All coffee bean orders are roasted fresh and may take 24-48 hours before shipping.