Ethiopia - Nano Challa

Region:  Nano Challa, Jimma

Notes: Apricot, Black Tea, Orange

Process: Washed

Variety: Heirloom

Altitude: 1900 - 2100 masl

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FARM NOTES:

The name "Nano Challa" refers to a local mythic tale about a challenge to become King of Jimma, and the coop adopted it to signify their desire to be a strong cooperative. Indeed, many coops in the West of Ethiopia have struggled to find good buyers who will pay enough for the coffee, to manage their own debts, and from internal struggles and graft. Nano Challa was formed as part of an initiative to aid farmers in a more comprehensive way, starting cooperatives that could be governed by the farmers, rather than selling their coffee to privately run mills, and 'middle men'. The program was originally administered by a non-government organization who coordinated agronomists and managers for each of the coops they work with, and also assigned business advisers to help the cooperative manage their debt, re-invest in quality improvements at the mill, and verify distribution of income to all members. They've continued this pursuit as part of an independent, local Union called Kata Muduaga, who assist the cooperatives with functions like marketing, exporting, and general representation on an international scale. Nano Challa is a smaller cooperative coffee mill near Gera town in the Jimma region, Western Ethiopia. (The area also has some of the finest honey available in Ethiopia). This is from a collection site 2km from the original Nano Challa station called "Genji Challa".