Epi coffee farmers make first harvest

By Anita Roberts Oct 1, 2016, Vanuatu Daily Post

Epi Coffee Farmrs, Vanuatu

This year marks a milestone for the Mafilau Coffee Farmers Association on the island of Epi since 2012 when it was given 2,000 coffee seedlings to get on its feed just after establishment.

The seedlings were delivered by the Tanna Coffee and Vanuatu Agriculture Department. Four years later, the young and struggling association have celebrated its first harvest of 51kg green beans.

Formed in 2011, this coffee farmers association is headed by a female, Eny Yona.

Providing a stable production of coffee, enhancing the coffee industry and ensuring a steadfast income stream for more farmers in Vanuatu was the idea of supplying the seedlings to the small association, said the Operations Manager of the Tanna Coffee, Yasmine Adlington-Walden.

“We (the Tanna Coffee) have future plans to replicate this success story on many other islands in Vanuatu.

“We are proud of the achievement of the Epi farmers. We will continue to support them as they grow, develop and value add to the country’s coffee industry, said another Tanna Coffee Spokesperson, Nambas Jacob Samuel. Mr Samuel went to the Epi to visit the farmers on Epi and has supplied an addition 32kg of coffee seeds to boost production.

The Mafilau Coffee Farmers Association has also been provided with a coffee pulper machine.

It is a device used to remove the pulp from a coffee cherry after it has been harvested. The cherries are passed through a pulping machine for the skin and pulp to be separated from the coffee bean.

An occasion was held at the village of Mafilau on west Epi to commemorate the first Epi coffee harvest.

Councillor of the west area council, Joseph Merip, who is also the leading cocoa farmer on Epi said the soil on the island is ideal for growing both cocoa and coffee.

“Its high time that the farmers on Epi start growing more cash crops like cocoa, coffee and kava.

“Epi’s coffee flavor is unique, similar to its cocoa”, he added.

The coffee association is small but it is growing slowly, he said.

For the Love of Coffee: International Coffee Day to be Held on October 1

International Coffee Day 1 October 2016

On October 1^st, the coffee world will celebrate International Coffee Day. This is a day for honoring the people who work in coffee, appreciating the passion that coffee creates, as well as taking the opportunity to inform consumers about coffee as a global product.

We encourage you to get involved on International Coffee Day! Here are a few ways you can engage your guests and staff to celebrate coffee on this day:

1. Share your appreciation for the work involved in making great coffee happen: Use the hashtag #internationalcoffeeday and follow along on October 1st!

2. Donate to your favorite NGO supporting coffee farmer communities, and share your commitment with your customers.

3. Plan an event to engage customers and community members about the coffee supply chain:

• Lead a special coffee tasting
• Team up with a local restaurant to offer a special International Coffee Day brunch with unique coffees
• Lead a discussion group with your baristas about any of these Symposium lectures to deepen their knowledge of the coffee value chain and the work of producers
• Bring a producer whose coffee you buy to visit your shop and give a talk about his/her work

4. Run a promotion in your shop or business:

• Buy one, get one free
• Offer free samples or free shots
• Feature a unique coffee
• Commit to donating a percentage of your earning to a coffee-focused charity

5. Engage local media in coverage of the day:

• Tell the local media about any special events you have planned. Be sure to emphasize how folks can get involved!

For more information or to submit your events to be featured on the official International Coffee Day website, please visit internationalcoffeeday.org.