The first ever “coffee cupping caravan” comprising international specialty coffee buyers visited coffee farmers cooperatives belonging to the Sidamo and Yirgachefe Coffee Unions from Feb. 21 to 25, 2010.

The visit which consist 12 international buyers from the US, Canada, Greece and Taiwan was organized by the USAID- Agribusiness and Trade Expansion Program (USAID-ATEP).

The cupping caravan promotes the traceability of high quality coffees, linking producers, farmers’ representatives officials directly to the buyers.

The initiative is an extension of the 4th Ethiopian Coffee Roundtable and Exhibition that featured cupping seminars, lectures, presentations and workshops on major topics related to the challenges and prospects of the Ethiopian coffee industry.

USAID-ATEP has been promoting Ethiopian coffee for the past years in collaboration with the private sector ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ethiopian Coffee Exporters Association (ECEA) .

Speaking at the discussion here in Addis Ababa Yirgachefe Coffee Grower farmers’ Union manager Takele Mamo said the visit enable to identify the very flavor of Yirgachefe coffee which is highly demanded at the international market would enable farmers to get better price.

He said the team has shown interest to work closely with the cooperatives.

Established 1994 EC, the Yirgachefe Coffee Union is currently supplying up to 1000 tons of coffee a year to the international markets.

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