Coffee Background:
In Colombia, the coffee industry thrives on the efforts of small family-owned farms that handle the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of coffee beans. These farmers are not only responsible for managing their farms and post-harvest processes but also rely on strong partnerships to distribute their coffee internationally and receive fair compensation. To facilitate this, Colombia established the Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC), which works in conjunction with regional coffee cooperatives. These cooperatives play a vital role in providing logistical support to farmers, offering centralized warehouses for storing dried parchment and dry mills for preparing coffee beans for export based on their size. 

Within this system, the Excelso grade is an important designation for coffee beans that do not pass through a screen opening smaller than 14/64 of an inch. Excelso lots are known for their traceability to specific regions in Colombia, each with unique harvest times. This traceability ensures a consistent supply of fresh Colombian Excelso coffee throughout the year. By maintaining this network of small farm production supported by larger cooperatives, Colombia's coffee industry can meet international demand while empowering local farmers to sustain their livelihoods.