All-woman Rwandan coffee available in UK supermarket
UK supermarket Sainbsury’s has launched the first variety of Fairtrade coffee to be produced solely by women.
It’s a first of its kind move in the United Kingdom as Sainsbury’s, one of Britain’s biggest supermarket retailers, began selling Kopakama Ejo Heza ground coffee as part of their ‘Taste the Difference’ range.
UK supermarket Sainbsury’s has launched the first variety of Fairtrade coffee to be produced solely by women.
It’s a first of its kind move in the United Kingdom as Sainsbury’s, one of Britain’s biggest supermarket retailers, began selling Kopakama Ejo Heza ground coffee as part of their ‘Taste the Difference’ range.
Launched to coincide with International Women’s Day and Fairtrade Fortnight, the Rwandan single-origin coffee carries a premium which supports women farmers, many of whom were affected by the terrible events of the Rwandan genocide which occurred two decades ago.
Many of the members of the communal farm lost their husbands in the violence and have since turned to the coffee industry to rebuild their lives.
Located on Rwanda’s western border, the plantation is located in a premium coffee growing area, yet many have struggled due to the economic and social challenges that the country still faces.
A director of Sainsbury’s, Judith Batchelar, said: “Kopakama Fairtrade coffee illustrates the vital role women play in agriculture across the world and especially in Africa, where 66% of smallholder farmers are women.”
“I’m glad that the work of the Ejo Heza project resulted in the launch of such a great coffee,” she continued.
From Kopakama’s birth in 1998 with just 48 members, the focus has always been on coffee growing. Today they have over 600 associates who grow and process their produce on site and are committed to improving conditions in their local communities. Thanks to the Fairtrade premium they have been able to access electricity and have bought a conference hall.
At the start of last year, a field was purchased to further their Women’s Coffee project. Entitled ‘Ejo Heza’, or ‘A better tomorrow’, the first harvest from the plot has gone straight into Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference range and straight onto the shelves.
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