Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/491365
STiR tea & coffee industry international 37 Tookays are indeed still a part of the supply chain in Simalungun and the Fair Trade USA pilot project sought a way to work with them. Zamora explained, "We were con- sidering how to work with local collectors in this process. The difference is that the collectors needed to be registered in the process and have traceability so we knew that the coffee was coming from the farmers in the process, and that the farmers in the process would receive the benefits from the Fair Trade sales." Market doubts All the markers for a successful pilot were there: rich soil, experienced and organizing farmers, a willingness to learn, and agreement about how fair trade premiums could best be used to improve the community. Most of the farmers Zamora met with signaled that access to a stable supply of clean drinking water would significantly improve quality of life in these villages. Beyond that, they also agreed the biggest challenges facing coffee growers were lack of sufficient processing infrastructure and, for many, limited access to what little does exist. In 2012, Zamora was optimistic about continuing to work with these farmer groups in North Sumatra. Fair Trade USA's initial goals were to help about 200 farmers learn the standards and become certified with the eventual goal of bringing a total of 1,000 into the system. Zamora reported getting off to a good start: "We had a couple of train- ings to the agronomists, to the standards, so all of that began." Despite this progress, the farmers eventually opted out of the pilot. "At some point, it was the exporter who said: 'Hey, we just don't see that the people who we had in mind to buy this coffee on fair trade terms are going to be there.' " This convinced the groups they would have better luck selling elsewhere, according to Zamora. Thus, Indonesia is one of two pilots that failed and were "closed before certified." How will these farmers fare without fair trade certification in the near future? A growing middle class may be enough to create the sort of vibrant domestic market that would reduce their need to rely on exports. Yet, many dynamics will continue to chal- lenge their efforts to establish economic stability for some time to come. Zamora talking with coffee farmers in Seribudolok, Simalungun, North Sumatra www.fl avourtech.com Aroma Recovery - Spinning Cone Column Extraction - Rotating Disc Column Concentration - Centritherm ® evaporator Complete Process Lines Available flavourtech Processing Excellence