Mensur Abahika was the first single producer from whom Osito purchased coffee in Ethiopia, five harvests ago. Mensur is a key member of the Tokuma Farmer Group, a collective of farmers in Western Ethiopia who have organized to market and export their coffees together, sharing knowledge that helps each member improve quality. Over the past five years, we have seen a year-over-year improvement in both quality and consistency within this group. Additionally, the Tokuma farmers have enhanced their ability to deliver coffees to port in a timely manner. Mensur’s contributions are crucial to the success of both the Tokuma group and Osito’s work with single producers in Western Ethiopia.
Historically, Jimma has been known for very low-quality naturally processed coffees. However, in 2009, Technoserve, an international nonprofit focused on implementing business solutions to poverty, began working with cooperatives in the area to teach them how to wash their coffees and produce specialty-quality coffee. Over the past decade, the region has gained a reputation as one of Ethiopia’s top quality-producing areas. Recently, specialty-minded producers in Jimma have begun to focus on high-quality naturals. Moreover, with the recent relaxation of restrictions on who can market and export coffee directly to importers, small to medium-sized single producers have gained the opportunity to market their coffees. It’s an exciting time for these coffees, and we are honored to be among the first to purchase them over the past five years.
