The Taza Dorada Fairtrade (Fairtrade Golden Cup) honors bring recognition – and brand new possibilities – to farmers who strive to produce high-quality Fairtrade coffee.
A judge during the Fairtrade Golden Cup that is colombian AwardsCLAC
Federacion Campesina del Cauca, a Fairtrade certified coffee cooperative from south-western Colombia, ended up being called general winner of this very first yearly Colombian Fairtrade Golden Cup Awards, judged by a professional panel of nine worldwide judges.
The cooperative’s coffee, scoring 89.64 points, beat away rigid competition from the industry of 79 examples submitted by 31 Fairtrade coffee cooperatives from Colombia.
The function had been arranged because of the Fairtrade Producer Network for Latin America together with Caribbean, CLAC, with two aims: encouraging farmers to boost the grade of their coffee, and awareness that is raising purchasers within the specialty coffee sector in regards to the option of good quality Fairtrade coffee. In addition it offered the opportunity for farmers to change share and information recommendations.
The contest’s finalists saw their coffee auctioned to specialty coffee purchasers on 12 March via the internet platform Beyco. The purchase had been available to any trader or roaster registered from the platform.
Bringing Fairtrade coffees to your specialty coffee market
Specialty coffee is cupped, judged and scored for quality on a 100-point scale. Today, more Fairtrade certified coffees are reaching or surpassing the mark that is 84-point which denotes quality in specialty coffee. Because of this, Fairtrade coffees are attracting attention that is growing specialty coffee traders and roasters. And also this results in better remuneration because of the higher selling price for specialty coffee, rendering it a business that is profitable farmers.
But, the street to creating speciality coffees is maybe maybe not a simple one. For many years, Fairtrade happens to be working alongside certified coffee cooperatives from around the globe to boost the caliber of their beans to be able to assist them to access the speciality dominican cupids market. Many initiatives have already been led by Fairtrade Producer Networks in Africa, Asia and Latin America, through training along with other tasks at cooperative degree. These generally include trainings in areas such as for example recommendations in manufacturing, harvest and coffee processing, in addition to cupping sessions, allowing manufacturers and staff that is cooperative find out about just how to measure the quality of the coffees.
In addition, Fairtrade was a regular fixture at the essential relevant yearly specialty coffee industry events, arranging cupping sessions and increasing understanding concerning the quality and variety of Fairtrade certified coffees. Included in these are the Specialty that is annual Coffee conferences within the U.S. And Japan, realm of Coffee in European countries, and Cafe Show in Southern Korea.
Growing supreme quality coffee not merely calls for learning additional skills but frequently additionally requires making assets in quality control laboratories, fertilisation and technical support for farmers. To guide this, the standards that are fairtrade coffee need that at the least 25 % regarding the Fairtrade Premium ($0.05 cents per lb) must be spent into enhancing coffee quality and efficiency
Such opportunities had been key into the popularity of Fairtrade Golden Cup champion Federacion Campesina del Cauca, describes Maricel Vivas, the cooperative’s representative that is legal.
“The analysis of quality within our laboratory is really a fundamental measure in purchase to constantly enhance the quality of our coffees. Tech support team normally essential to enhance the standard of our users’ coffees, ” she claims. “We have never yet held our assembly that is general to as to how we’re going to invest the Fairtrade Premium this season, but farmers have previously expressed which they desire to continue spending into tech support team, fertilization and crop care. ”
Judges give quality or Q-scores to every coffee test, away from a possible 100 points. CLAC
Fairtrade Golden Cup activities: a good motivation to keep taking care of quality
CLAC, alongside its national platforms, started arranging the Golden that is first Cup across Latin United states nations almost 2 yrs ago, in order to encourage Fairtrade certified manufacturers to continue taking care of quality enhancement. Fairtrade producer companies distribute their examples become judged with a panel of certified Q-graders. The champions are recognized with a honor, and showcased at cupping sessions organized by Fairtrade at speciality coffee trade events.
“We were invited by CLAC year that is last indulge in your competition, ” recalls Maricel Vivas. “We saw it as a way to access markets that are new. It must be stated that the specialty coffee markets are hard to access also to stay there was a fight that is constant particularly taking into consideration the consequences of weather modification. But this award is received by us with appreciation. We think that by being employed as an united group, possibilities always arise. ”
Making usage of technology to worldwide reach buyers
This year’s Colombian Fairtrade Golden Cup Awards represent the very first time that finalists’ coffee examples had been auctioned via an on-line platform. Beyco (“Beyond Coffee”), a global coffee connection and trading platform centered on blockchain technology, was developed and owned by Progreso Foundation as part of their objective to guide producer organisations in access to markets and finance. Even though it is maybe maybe not yet adjusted for sale, Fairtrade and Beyco are partnering to check this functionality. The advantage of with the platform is the fact that purchasers and vendors can establish connections that are direct can cause product product product sales of other coffees through the finalist cooperatives not in the auction.
“We want to exceed promotion and understanding raising, ” says Joao Mattos, coffee manager at CLAC. “What we a cure for by organizing these prizes and deals would be to bring to home based business to the Fairtrade coffee cooperatives which can be working so difficult to produce the very best coffees. Ideally, this may then lead to long-term company relationships. ”
The premium prices received of these coffees shows just exactly how interest that is much speciality coffees are producing. The Fairtrade Minimum Price for coffee is $1.40 per lb, but specialty coffees can command greater costs. In comparison, this new York C-price for Arabica beans is hovering around $1.06 per lb.
Joseph Tavenier, employed in quality assurance at Bridgehead Coffee, managed to participant in case.
“Having been through this competition, there is no issues for me personally that the product quality will there be and that’s a huge takeaway, ” claims Joe. “If we need to explore and work to find out locations that are creating top quality, Fairtrade, and organic coffee, this competition certainly did that for us. “
After the outstanding reaction to the Colombian Fairtrade Golden Cup Awards, future tournaments are usually being arranged across Latin America, aided by the next competition planned become held in Honduras in might. Peru and Brazil may also host activities later on this present year.
Meanwhile, Fairtrade Africa is replicating the model, aided by the very first Fairtrade Golden Cup activities in African coffee-producing nations planned with this summer time.