How is the Organic Fair Trade Premium Spent?

Watch this video about how the Arinigata Organic coffee farmers in the Gayo region of Sumatra spend their Fair Trade premium

Into the jungle we go

This might be the last post for a while. We're not sure if there will be internet, hot showers (there has not been a hot shower yet:) or paved roads. Takengon as it is has only one spotty internet place. The pictures won't upload and sometimes the post publishes sometimes not. Mungkin ja, mungkin tedack.
We head to Blangketjereng to visit cocoa farms and hand out school supplies, then to Ketembe for a jungle trek, then Lake Toba to do the tourist thing, then maybe Padang to shop for gifts, (send all your requests now).

We spent two full days interviewing farmers from different coops. We visited the villages, met with the leaders, drank coffee, explored the coffee gardens, drank coffee, ate lunch and shared stories. Everyone was excited to see us and wanted their pictures taken. They were literally dragging us by the arm to see this and that. They had so much fun listening to us attempt to speak Indonesian.
I was reluctant to where a head scarf but was glad I did. all the men and women commented on it and smiled approvingly. I was showing proper respect. Funny, I initially felt this rubbed me the wrong way:) Now I wrap it around me like a special blanket.

I will load pictures as I can. I have lots of pictures of all the coop farmers and their children.

Coffee Exporters in Medan

We were fortunate to meet with 2 coffee exporters in Medan on Saturday June 27th, Mr. Ujang, Fairtrade Organic Coffee Exporter and Mr. Sadarsah of C.V. Arvis Sanada.



We went to each of their individual warehouses, met some of their cooperative members and talked about how the coffee business is going and the impact the Fair trade and Organic coffee markets have in the Gayo region. There is much we learned and much to share, later.

They welcomed us, were extremely friendly and helpful. We made arrangements to visit the coffee cooperatives the following week.

Because we caught them in the slow part of their season there was not much in the way of coffee processing to see. Some sorting of the of the non-premium beans were being sorted by groups of women workers. The smell and taste, we were served many cups of coffee, was a wonderful step into all that is coffee.