After a bushfire, out of a desire of forest conservation, Tesfaye started Suke Quto Farm which is currently Organic and Rainforest Alliance certified. It was possible to conserve the forest by distributing coffee and shade tree seedlings amongst the local community. He recruited 150 out-growers, that replanted the forest. With this, Tesfaye accomplished his dream with Suke Quto Farm: developing environmentally friendly coffee, and sustaining the local community with a consistent income. The local smallholders harvest organic coffee and deliver it to Suke Quto Farm for processing.

In 2009, Tesfaye sent us samples. After cupping his coffee, we contacted Tesfaye to inform him that we found the coffee disappointing. Tesfaye did not believe this and personally came over the next day to deliver new samples. Outstanding quality. It turned out that the first sample was not even from Suke Quto Farm, emphasizing the necessity to buy coffees directly from the producers and have your own people on the ground. As our goals and purpose greatly overlap, we have worked closely with Tesfaye ever since. Together we have conducted numerous experiments, trying to improve his coffee ever further.

Trabocca pays for the farm’s organic certification and if the quality standards are met, gives premiums under the ‘Operation Cherry Red’ program. “Trabocca is our main buyer,” – Tesfaye explains, “We sell our coffee to them every year and they are distributing it throughout the world. Trabocca is very serious about quality control and brought us to the level at which we are now, where we are very proud of our product.”