Kenyan Coffee Farm Gains International Recognition for Quality

Awarded the highly sought after UTZ “good inside” certification, Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri-owned Nyeri Hill Farm has been internationally recognised for the quality of is coffee output.

UTZ Certified is amongst the world’s most significant coffee certification schemes, which recognise positive farming practices and sustainability produced coffee products, as well as social and environmental responsibility that meets consumer standards.

Accepting the certification, Most Rev Peter Kairo, the Nyeri Archbishop, described it as a “cherished goal and a dream true” to be active in the niche speciality market and fully appreciated the recognition for the farm’s endeavours to ensure sustainable agriculture, the wellbeing of its employees and the traceability of its products.

George Karugu Macharia, African representative for UTZ Certified, elaborated that the certification now means that the coffee grown by Nyeri Hill Farm has secured a niche in the UTZ Certified, world-renowned, sustainability-assured and quality speciality sector.

Also present at the award presentation was Coffee Management Services Ltd’s Kamau Kuria who spoke of the already positive impact the certification was having on the farm’s coffee prices. He was also encouraged by the recognition of those farms adopting sustainable and good agricultural practices and urged more coffee farms to focus on bettering the quality of their coffee to reap the same rewards in terms of pricing and recognition.

Nyeri Hill Farm was established in the 1920s and covers 344 hectares of ground across three ridges joined by woodland and corridors of natural vegetation.