FLORESCENT [adj.] (flɔːˈrɛsənt): flowering, budding, bursting into bloom, see also:

RWANDA AKAGERA IKIZERE

That’s right folks, this is one of those coffees that you’ll wanna serve with a little umbrella: refreshing, vibrant, full of verve and bursting with energy. Like a technicolor meadow in full bloom, our third and final Rwanda of the year is the one to steer us from the dregs of winter to the triumph of spring. It is our second straight year featuring a women-produced micro-lot from this washing station, and once again, we’re thrilled.

Akagera is the newest station in the Baho Coffee family, and is also their second smallest. It is located in a beautiful, abundant area between Lake Kivu and Nyungwe National Forest, and just under 500 farmers bring their cherries here for processing. As with all of the Baho Coffee Stations, producers here receive agricultural training, inputs, and substantial contributions toward health insurance premiums, as well as a secondary payment that allows them to receive much more income than the nationally mandated farmgate price. 

This micro-lot’s IKIZERE designation means that it was produced solely by women—an extension and refinement of Baho’s holistic approach toward stronger traceability empowerment to farmers. Sundog, our importing partners, describe the program like this:

The group[s are] composed of widowed women and single mothers who share the unique challenges of navigating traditionally patriarchal systems - both the Rwandese society as a whole and more specifically coffee production. Through supporting the Ikizere project, we hope to aid in developing a stronger sense of community between the women and create a platform upon which their voices can be heard. Over the past few years, we’ve seen the Ikizere project grow quickly from just around 20 growers at the Fugi station to now 100+ women with representation at each station that we’re purchasing from.

This eight women who contributed to this lot are: Esperance Mukayiranga, Jeannette Mukashyaka, Azita Urwishumuko, Claudia Bankundiye, Birgitte Mukundenawe, Francoise Kanakuze, Annociate Mukankusi, and Bernadette Nyirantakontagize.

On our end, we’re incredibly thankful to have access to these coffees, and proud to support these producers. Each year, several Ikizere lots are veritable stunners, and this one from Akagera is no exception.