US buys Kabwum coffee

By Frank Rai

Post Courier 28th February 2012

Organic coffee from the remote Kabwum District of Morobe Province has for the first time reached the shores of the United States of America (USA). The project was spearhead by remote Yus Local Level Government (LLG) council area, the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP), Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC), and a USA-based coffee company, Caffe Vita with local coffee farmers.

The move was an outcome of the local people’s commitment to pledge their land to conservation, especially protecting endangered species of the tree kangaroo. The project known as PNG YUS farm Direct Coffee is now available in limited edition, 340g bags at Seattle, Washington Caffe Vita locations and online at

“For the first time, these farmers have a real opportunity to earn the money they need to put their children through school and provide for their health care,” he said. Mr Sipa said Caffe Vita was willing to pay a premium price for the YUS beans not only for their quality which was enhanced through technical trainings from CIC’s extension officers, but also because of the environmentally friendly produce. Meanwhile, Woodland Park Zoo senior conservation scientist and director of the zoo’s Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program Dr Lisa Dabek said the mountainous YUS LLG was so remote, with no roads leading in or out of the area. Dr Dabek said the area was only accessible by light aircrafts and the organisations knew that this effort could only be possible with the guidance of an expert partner who could help establish an infrastructure for transporting coffee as well as real market products. The doctor said Caffe Vita stepped up not only to provide the structure and market support, but also came to PNG to meet the farmers, train them on coffee cultivation techniques and help improve their product to the sensibilities of the gourmet Seattle coffee market.

"The farmers of YUS have shown remarkable progress toward implementing the changes necessary to improve yields, and, more importantly, the quality of their coffee," said Daniel Shewmaker, Caffe Vita sustainable coffee buyer said. "Our goal is the continual refinement of these farming and processing practices, with the reward being an improvement to their livelihoods, a strengthening of the conservation area, and a cup of coffee like no other." The coffee available on shelves now is a blend made up of the best in beans from several YUS villages purchased from a total of 54 farmers. The coffee project is one aspect of the YUS CA long term partnership

http://www.caffevita.com/ . However, grown in shade without the use of pesticides, this marks the first-ever coffee from the Yus LLG made commercially available in the U.S, purchased directly from the growers at a premium price. “The YUS farmers have had so many challenges trying to sell their coffee in the past, but now they have reason for hope,” Benjamin Sipa, TKCP Sustainable Livelihoods Co-ordinator said.