As far as the K4 coffees are concerned, farmers deliver this as a parchment to the cooperative. They also finish semi-processing the coffees at their home and the quality isn’t completely uniform as more than 50% of the members deliver parchment. There are total of 2103 farmers and out of which 1704 are certified organic. To make the K4 coffees, each farmer approximately brings 300 kgs of cherries. Most often it is approximately the same list/number of farmers who deliver to the cooperative for making this product. But the number increases or decreases depending on when they start buying during the season. For example: in 2022, 517 producers delivered cherry coffee with an average of 268 kg per producer. While in 2023 there will be 479 producers with an average of 301 kg. This means that it varies from one year to another. Even though the financial impact is there but too its visibility is limited because the quantity sold is too little compared to the quantity produced. In addition, the price at which coffee is sold remains to be improved so that producers can find their way.
Farmers still continue to produce coffee in this region since it is the most profitable crop. It is also part of their cultural legacy to grow coffee in this region. Since they receive a bonus per kg of green beans which gets accumulated as a second payment which they have recently been able to receive, it incentivizes them to stay in the game. Further, the cooperative also plays an active role in training and certification which reduces the burden of risk on each farmer individually. Alternate sources of income come from intercropping associated with coffee such as beans, soybeans, peanuts and bananas. These crops are harvested twice a year while coffee is harvested only once. Others do small business and small livestock farming. The financial impact it creates in general because of earning an income as a group is also the increased access to credit.
Even though for the other coffees, they get paid per kg of cherry and the cooperative processes it for them into final green beans, K4 is an exception since it is also semi processed by the farmers directly brought to the cooperative to get their support with milling. Therefore the quality imbalance is quite evident due to currently the lack of centralized processing strategy.
This challenge of lack of infrastructure is now being actively changed using the funds made available from FBK for elimination of child labor in this region. One of the primary interventions is building of micro washing station as part of capacity building at RAEK. This allows them to buy more than they do now which also directly allows for an increase in the income of farmers creating an upward cycle. The other themes of intervention include making a better business and marketing plan to attract more buyers as well as regeneration of trees/coffee plants to improve the productivity. Read more about the developments of the child labor project here.
This Side Up Coffees was founded in 2013 and connects coffee enthusiasts directly with the farmers who grow their coffee. As a transparent broker, it not only delivers exceptional coffee but also shares a story of direct trade through collaboration within the value chain. By working directly with farmers, it creates value for producers through high prices and a recurring market. Roasters can choose from a wide range of coffees and have the opportunity to make a positive impact through coffee trade.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is at the heart of This Side Up. The company measures and documents the impact it makes in collaboration with its partners. Through a regenerative premium of 6 euro cents, it encourages partners to make ecological investments to combat long-term climate change. TSU also invests in social projects, such as eradicating child labor in countries like Congo and Rwanda.
HIGHEST QUALITY
This Side Up works with farmers committed to producing high-quality coffee. Through continuous feedback and personal visits, This Side Up collaborates with farmers to achieve consistent quality year after year. Its range reflects the diversity of each region.
TRANSPARENCY
Transparency is the foundation of This Side Up. The company ensures fair prices, direct market access for farmers, and provides consumers with insights into the origin of their coffee. This fosters trust and equality between producers and consumers.
N O T A B L E
By buying this coffee, it also allows you to support the protecting wildlife against poaching movement. One thing we know is that during the coffee-growing season, all members of the Park's local communities (in the sector of Katana) are busy with various coffee-growing activities, diminishing the pressure on the park through poaching and felling of trees.
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The K4 grade last year was a result of coffees left at the washing station after K3 were produced after de-pulping. 50 % of the K4 is also received in the form of parchment from some of the members which makes maintaining the quality very hard. The average production per member is 300 kg of cherries and RAEK has 2103 members. But not all members bring in all their production, as RAEK does not have the capacity to receive it for the following reasons: the drying tables are too small, and apart from TSU there are no other buyers. The fact that RAEK doesn't buy much from its members forces them to sell elsewhere.
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Out of a total of 130 bags, 50 bags were purchased by Ray and Jules. This accounts to almost 40% of the total volume of K4 sold to This Side Up who are currently the only buyers of this coffee.
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RAEK pays on an average between 0.5 to 0.6 $ per kg of cherry which translates to 1097 to 1317 FC purchased from the farmers. This price is higher than what the ONAPAC (Office Nationale de Produits Agricoles Congolais) has fixed currently for the coffee cherry price which is about 1000 FC. Farmers of RAEK also earn a 1 euro of bonus per Kg of green coffee (roughly 0.11-0.12$ per kg cherry) which is given to them as second payment to incentivize them to keep producing Specialty quality coffee.
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Each tree produces between 4-5 kgs yield of coffee with an average of 2.5-3 Kgs and anything below this, RAEK advices the farmers to start taking the agroecological approach towards improving production
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Currently RAEK pays for the certification of farmers to be converted to organic which reduces the burden on the farmers to spend on this cost. Coffee is viewed as a profitable crop and the heritage of growing it for generation keeps the engines running. Farmers are also trained by RAEK in the best practices.
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FOB per kg for K4 was priced at 5$ and for 50 bags of 60 kg. Farmers bring cherries to the cooperative and the processing work is then done by the cooperative to the final form. Currently since TSU is the main and only buyer for this coffee, this is an additional income they might lose if TSU/Ray and Jules didn't buy these bags.
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According to Desire, for the washed coffees, the ratios between the cherry to parchment is 5.4 kg cherries is giving 1 kg of parchment and 700 grams of green bean. K4 is grade B and is derived from the K3 either from pulping or from sorting , lower in density and therefore quality.
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For the K4, if we consider it is what remains after a 20% loss after K3 is sorted. Then we approximate the farm gate at €3,75 which is 80% of the total FOT and cooperative gets 20% for their efforts FOR 2023 .
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