Yacuanquer / Washed / Colombia / 250g

Origin: Colombia
Producer: Yacuanquer Pickers Project        
Region: Yacuanquer, Nariño                   
Varieties:  Castillo & Colombia
Process: Washed
Altitude: 1900 - 2000 m.a.s.l.
Flavour Profile: Blueberry, Honeycomb & Nougat 

In 2017, Azahar created the “Pickers Project” with the threefold goal of ending worker exploitation in coffee, solving farmers’ labor issues, and improving quality. Its Colombian foundation, Manos al Grano, now trains a team of full time pickers, which it deploys to its partner farmers. It pays them salaries with the same benefits its employees are entitled to, something virtually unheard of in the world of picking coffee.

Participating farmers don’t have to scramble to find labor; now they have skilled workers on demand. Their harvest is largely pre-financed, as they pay for the cost
of picking when they deliver their coffee and get paid themselves. The cost is still calculated on a “piece” basis, meaning they get the benefits of a piece wage system (e.g. no overhead) without subjecting workers to piece wage exploitation. They can streamline their operation, comply with labor laws, and increase quality, all at the same time. Meanwhile, roasters benefit from the increased quality and the certainty that they are not buying products harvested with illegal or exploitative
labor practices.

We buy this coffee from Azahar Coffee.