2017 saw the addition of several talented new staff members to Sustainable Harvest® who have helped us source excellent coffees, create an ever-improving customer experience for our clients, and grow our origin impact programs to amplify the positive change we create in coffee-producing communities. Below, get to know these staff and how they're supporting the mission of Relationship Coffee.

Following up on previous collaborations with Sustainable Harvest® in the past, including an initiative to create affordable processing measurement tools for farmers, Stanford University wrote a case study on Sustainable Harvest® as a model for sustainable business in 2017. The project was led the by the university's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences, and focuses on the story of Relationship Coffee, including the inequalities in coffee that inspired David Griswold to found Sustainable Harvest®, how we have fostered sustainability through social enterprise over the past 20 years, and what future challenges our business and the industry will face in the years to come.

In 2017, we imported washed and natural coffees from Ethiopia's Limmu Kossa farm for the first time, and they made a lasting impression on our staff and our customers. Limmu Kossa is a 356 acre estate in the Jimma zone of the country owned by Giday Behre, and it employs 500 people full-time, year-round. In the towns near Limmu, Giday is known as Ollie, which means "one who uplifts" in the local language. Given Giday's work to build schools, roads, and provide subsidized goods and services to Limmu Kossa's workers, the name is fitting—he is a pillar of the local community. 

43 different species of trees shade the heirloom coffee varieties growing at Limmu Kossa, which yield a cup with very balanced fruit and floral notes, and an embrace of satisfying sweetness. The natural offering has a unique taste profile among Ethiopia naturals, with delicate citrus and stone fruit flavors in lieu of strong berry notes. Whether our customers try the washed or natural, those that cup these offerings agree: they are exceptional. 

Check out the Limmu Kossa offerings we have on spot now for a sample, or get in touch with us at trade@sustainableharvest.com to taste an upcoming pre-ship sample from the latest harvest, which ships in February.

We love seeing the coffee world become better connected through each supply chain gathering we facilitate, no matter how large or small. One of the more intimate ways we cultivate relationships across the supply chain is through origin trips with customers, where roasters and growers meet face-to-face in the lands where the story of coffee begins. We're honored to be able to introduce our customers to dedicated growers and amazing coffees—it's what inspires us to get to work every each and every day.

Last summer, long-time Las Hermanas coffee buyer Peet's Coffee invited Fatima Ismael, the leader of the Nicaragua women's growing collective, to their Emeryville, CA headquarters for a Relationship Coffee celebration. The relationship between these two organizations has yielded many incredible cups of coffee over the years, and thanks in part to the partnership, Las Hermanas has grown to become a model for women's co-ops producing sustainable, high-quality coffee. We were thrilled to be part of the visit and see the staff of Peet's Coffee and Fatima Ismael celebrate this success together at Peet’s HQ!

Fatima shares the story of Las Hermanas with the Peet's Coffee team.