We’re proud to offer Direct Trade Mordecofe for the fourth consecutive year. In 2001, Haile Gebre left his government post as director of all cooperative business in Ethiopia. He returned to his home to cultivate coffee on his grandfather’s land in the highland old growth forests of Southern Ethiopia. Haile owns and operates two farms and a washing station under the Mordecofe umbrella, ‘Mora Mora River Valley Development Coffee’, in the Guji district about 200 miles from the Kenyan border. This organization works with medium sized coffee farmers in the immediate area to produce high quality, organic coffee. They produce approximately 344 tons of coffee annually on 640 hectares of land.
By providing a 100% organic certified product, Mordecofe supports a better life for the community of farmers and their families while promoting environmental stewardship. Farmers are provided new seedlings through nursery sites and extensive education on harvesting, cherry selection and organic agricultural practices. There are twelve permanent staff members who offer practical experience in coffee production, processing, and harvesting. In addition, 200 temporary workers are hired during the harvest. Some subsidiary projects include beekeeping to produce honey and eco-tourism opportunities for travelers.
Haile Gebre’s process includes a six hour washing technique that leaves his coffee beans perfectly clean of any remaining fruit, alcohol, and sugars. After soaking, the coffee beans are gently dried on raised beds increasing the tactile sensation and therefore creating a supremely balanced coffee. Mordecofe is a model of a private sector development in Ethiopia. Through its Direct Trade relationships, they are able to secure fair and livable wages for their employees and the family of farmers.
2011 Update:
Mordecofe replaced their 3-disc depulper with a 6-disc depulper which will greatly increase their washed processed capacity while maintaining their high quality standards. Our exporter partner in Ethiopia donated a Probat two barrel sample roaster and grinder to Mordecofe to increase involvement in cupping their coffees. This is a great step towards ongoing awareness and continued improvement.