The Flavia Brighter Tomorrow programme

Responsibility

Coffee is one of the world’s largest traded commodities and is one of the most important exports for many developing countries. It is one of the few international traded commodities that are still mainly produced on smallholder farms rather than large-scale plantations. About 70% of the world’s coffee is grown on farms of less than 10 hectares, and today there are an estimated 25 million farmers growing coffee in approximately 50 countries.

Consumers throughout the world are increasingly demanding assurance that drinks are made from quality ingredients and produced in a sustainable way. Our supplier is fully committed to sustainability, which results from a responsible approach to both coffee production and sourcing. This approach will help to improve the lives of coffee farmers and their families.

Although not a big player in the coffee market, they only deal with partners who trade responsibly – governed first by product quality, but also by developing “provenance”. Provenance means that for some our there range it is sourced directly from where the coffee originates, that the conditions there are safe and supportive for the farmers and their families, and that they have a means to develop their business. Building relationships at these sources ensures a long term trading relationship for quality producers.

Brighter Tomorrow at Origin is the name for the programme of work with Farmers in Kenya

Large estates supply most Kenyan coffee, but 20% comes from smallholders and co-operatives. These co-operatives often do not have the resource or know-how to invest in production facilities and sustainable farming techniques. These investments would improve coffee quality and therefore the price they can sell their coffee for, which in turn improves the lives of the farmers and their families.

Our supplier is working with a co-operative of 2500 farmers, who each have around 100 coffee trees. The co-operative was formed in the early 1960`s and much of their equipment and facilities have not changed since. Having visited them and talked about the opportunities to work together, They have identified a range of areas for investment that will help raise the quality of their coffee, as well as working on social projects with the community.

Please visit www.brightertomorrow.info to find out more.