Zelelu Ararso

Farmlevel Story

We are thrilled to announce this exciting single farmer lot from Ethiopia. Farmlevel traceability in the way that we have come to practice it, is a little less clear when it comes to Ethiopia. The structure of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange makes farmlevel traceability hairy. Most of the coffee we purchase from Ethiopia is representative of the kebele, washing station, or a cooperative. 

When we source our coffee from Ethiopia we understand that we are buying multiple micro-lots from various anonymous smallholders. Each producer is represented by the washing station or cooperative where their lot is processed. Our Green Coffee team has been passionate to source a coffee where we can highlight one producer from Ethiopia. 

This is made possible by the Single Producer Project that was created by our friends at Royal coffee in partnership with Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (YCFCU). The project aims to separate individual lots from washing stations and producers agree to meet a higher standard of farming, processing, and quality. In return these farmers receive a premium for their coffees. This project is consistent with our farmlevel initiative and continues to grow its membership. 

Zelelu Ararso processes his coffee at the Addis Ketema Cooperative. Zelelu is an extremely talented producer, having won multiple awards for his work. He continues to grow as role model for other local producers, with plans to eventually process his own coffee.