Perky - Sourcing

Ethiopia’s coffee industry is built on generations of tradition, but access to international markets has long been a challenge for individual farmers. The Single Farmer Project from Cafe Imports (one of our import partners) changes that by working with smallholder producers to provide full traceability, fair pricing, and recognition. Rather than selling to large cooperatives or intermediaries, farmers like Mr. Ocholo can directly connect with roasters, ensuring their hard work is valued and rewarded.

Back in 2012, during a turbulent time in Ethiopia's coffee exporting history, Cafe Imports CEO Jason Long worked with an established cooperative to export some of the first ever truly “Farm Traceable” lots from Ethiopia. This was the first time a roaster could highlight the individual farmer for their Ethiopian Coffee. It was the start of an incredible project and truly began the movement for traceability in Ethiopia as we see more often today.

This project is made possible in conjunction with important export partners supporting and bringing to market individual farmer lots. Samples are sent out to potential buyers, price is negotiated on the farmers' behalf, and contracts are only accepted when the producer agrees on a sales price and their name is on the contract for each coffee they sell.

“Our goals with this project would be to help garner and develop long-term relationships between the producers we are already working with and coffee roasting companies that share in the values of transparency, traceability, and relationship that this program represents," says Claudia, green-coffee buyer for Cafe Imports.

By choosing Perky, you’re not just drinking a great cup—you’re helping to support a more equitable and sustainable coffee industry in Ethiopia.