Ethiopia - Bedesa

This lot is the production of farmers from the Bedesa village in Gedeb, Yirgacheffe, where farms are located outside the village at altitudes ranging from 2050 to 2150 meters. 

After the harvest, the cherries are purchased locally and processed at a 2-hectare dry coffee processing site managed by vertical supplier Abera Teshome.

The cherries are carefully sourced from local male and female farmers in the surrounding area and, after sorting and floating, are left to dry on African raised beds over a period of 12 to 15 days. 

The coffee is composed of indigenous heirloom varieties and is processed naturally, without any extra fermentation step. Harvesting takes place from October through early January, during which time Abera employs around 5 permanent staff and up to 78 temporary workers, reflecting the seasonal intensity of the harvest. 

The site benefits from shade provided by false banana trees (Enset), a traditional agroforestry practice that supports soil health and biodiversity, as well as source of food, used to make Kocho, the staple food in the area.