[{"id":441570492714,"handle":"wholesale","updated_at":"2024-10-01T09:40:16-07:00","published_at":"2023-04-03T18:00:34-07:00","sort_order":"best-selling","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"global","title":"Wholesale FTO \u0026 Single Origin","body_html":""}]
Coffee Background: The Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia, the country's largest region, is home to more than 35 million people and spans over 110,000 square miles. It is a region rich in coffee-growing territories, with 65% of Ethiopia's coffee cultivation happening here in the noteworthy coffee regions of Jimma, Illubabor, Harar, Arsi, and the Guji Zone. The Oromia have consolidated resources and enhanced their position in the global coffee market by forming the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, (OCFCU), to ensure that premiums from coffee exports directly benefit farmers, fund organic farming initiatives, provide equipment for processing mills, and support food security programs. Additionally, OCFCU prioritizes quality control through its central cupping lab, and promotes sustainability through organic certification. They also offer financial services like pre-harvest financing and crop insurance through the Cooperative Bank of Oromia for rural farmers who historically lacked access to such resources. In 2002, OCFCU became Fair Trade and Organic certified, marking a significant milestone in ethical and sustainable coffee production. Through these certifications, OCFCU has become one of the world's largest suppliers of Fair Trade coffee, emphasizing fair prices and practices that benefit both farmers and the environment. By centralizing resources, supporting organic farming, ensuring fair prices, and providing essential services, OCFCU plays a pivotal role in improving the livelihoods of coffee farmers in the Oromia region, contributing to a more sustainable and equitable coffee industry.
