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In an initiative led by the FNC with the support of USAID

  • From August 11 to 14, making the most of new technologies, and cup tasting previously shipped coffee, buyers and producers will have the interaction that is vital in the purchase of specialty coffee to build long-term relationships.

Bogotá, August 6, 2020 (FNC Press Office) – Coffee buyers will live the experience of traveling to coffee communities – tasting incredible coffee and committing to producers – in a virtual event that will take place from August 11 to 14.

Due to international travel restrictions, green coffee buyers have not been able to make their regular trips to producing countries to source coffee for their operations; however, this will not be a limitation for their palates to enjoy Colombian coffee.

Coffee for Peace in Colombia, an initiative led by the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) and supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), will present a novel way for coffee buyers to connect with Colombian coffee growers remotely: the first Virtual Buyers Caravan, which will showcase producers from Cauca and Valle del Cauca.

The Caravan aims to present an interactive, festive experience. Over the four days, coffee buyers will engage in 90-minute virtual visits to four producer organizations from areas where Coffee for Peace operates and that have historically suffered violence in Colombia. Participants will take part in interactive cupping sessions and learn about the culture and practices that make each group unique.

“For the FNC, it is very important to make the first Virtual Buyers Caravan a reality, because spaces are created there for coffee buyers to build long-term relationships with Colombian coffee growers. We must continue creating more innovative opportunities like this for marketing high-quality coffee,” Roberto Vélez, the FNC CEO, said.

Prior registration for the Caravan, interested buyers received, for their own cup tasting, samples of green and roasted coffee from the four participating producer organizations: The Cauca Departmental Coffee Growers Committee and the Cencoic cooperative, in Popayán; Cafinorte, in Santander de Quilichao; and Cafioccidente, in Restrepo.

“While there is no substitute for stepping foot on a coffee farm, technology has improved so dramatically in recent years that it really is possible to visit coffee-producing communities, engage with producer groups, and develop long-term relationships without having to board a plane,” David Pohl, of Coffee for Peace, said.

This event will allow them to cup taste both coffee roasted to their desired level and the same roasted coffee as all participants so they have the same entry point to the conversation about each coffee.

Each day will focus on a different producer organization, with a video on each group, a live Q&A with buyer participants and the producers, and a conversation about their coffee.

This interaction between producer and buyer is vital, says KC O’Keefe, of Coffee for Peace: “The specialty coffee business is built upon the coffee roaster’s interaction with producers. Vacant that interaction, specialty coffee becomes a simple high-quality commodity. The Virtual Buyers Caravan attempts to throw a critical interaction lifeline to keep specialty coffee special through covid-19.”