Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/491371
20 STiR tea & coffee industry international Kenya AFCA Speakers Announced At the 12th African Fine Coffee Conference and Exhibition, the African Fine Coffees Association Coffee Institute is hosting a program of workshops. The workshops will provide in-depth insights into export procedures. Topics include "What You Need to Know About Coffee Contracts" by David Barry, managing director of Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd. and John Schluter, founder of Schluter Coffee Co.; and "Dealing with International Markets" by Judith Ganes, founder and president of J. Ganes Consulting, LLC and Robert Nsibirwa, founder and chief executive officer of the Africa Coffee Academy. Hundreds of farmers and producer organization representatives are expect- ed to attend. In addition to access to more than 100 exhibitors, attendees will hear presentations from world renowned leaders in the specialty coffee industry, including Abdullah Bagersh, managing director of SA Bagersh, one of the leading coffee exporters from Ethiopia; Julianne Kayonga, country manager for the Rwanda Starbucks Farmer Support Center; Juergen Kuesters, senior scientist at Yara Research; Duncan Pollard, a.v.p. stakeholders engagement in sustainabil- ity, Nestlé; and Tony Sala, business development officer at ACM Perú. The event takes place at the Safari Park Hotel and casino in Nairobi, Kenya from Feb. 12-14, 2015. Learn more: www.eafca.org/wwc/ conference/program.htm Rwanda A Call for Open Borders At the 2014 East Africa Business Summit, which took place in October, Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda, spoke to the many chief executive officers who attended. The theme of the conference was Positioning East Africa for Inclusive Prosperity in 2020 and Beyond. In his talk, he focused on the idea of opening borders. Photo courtesy of ITU/J.Ohle chairman, president and c.e.o. of Starbucks. Schultz personally opened the new roastery's doors to the public. "The Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting room is a multi-sensory experience that will transform the future of specialty coffee. We plan to take this super premium experience to cities around the world, elevating the Starbucks experi- ence not only through these stores but across our entire business." The roastery will supply 1.4 million pounds of coffee to smaller reserve locations during the coming year. Starbucks is on track to bring approximately 1,550 net new stores in FY14 and 1,600 net new stores in FY15 with nearly 300 net new company-oper- ated locations in the U.S. Center, Dan Welch, newly elected p.r. committee chair, speaks to meeting of Oregon Coffee Executive Board Photo courtesty of Zane Spang Rwanda President Paul Kagame "When Rwanda and Kenya opened up, people from both sides benefited," said President Kagame. "If Rwanda cannot fear opening up to Kenya, why should other member states fear?" President Kagame added, "There more we pool our resources together the more we integrate." Cash crops and minerals top the list of exports from East Africa, including 42% of Africa's coffee exports, 17% of its sugar exports, and 9% of its cotton exports, supplying markets in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Rwanda exports coffee, tea, and cocoa through neighboring countries in the East African Community (EAC). During the first half of 2014, the country's exports approached nearly $98 million in value. Learn more: www.eabsummit.com United States Starbucks Roastery Opens Soon On Dec. 5th, Starbucks opened its first-ever Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in Seattle, Wash. The official release announcing the opening calls this space a "first-of-its-kind union for Starbucks of coffee theater and manufacturing." The company spent more than two years developing the concept and design for the 15,000-square-foot interactive retail environment devoted to beverage innovation and excellence. "Everything we have created and learned about coffee has led us to this moment," said Howard Schultz, Oregon Coffee Board Many may think of Seattle, Wash. as home to specialty coffee thanks to Starbucks headquarters there but Oregon is the first state to establish a coffee board. The organization recently announced it had held its first elections for executive board. Those elected include; Michael Boyd, president and coffee buyer at Boyd Coffee Company; Mark Stell, v.p. and owner of Portland Roasting; Marie Franklin, treasurer and director of global sales at Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers; Mary Ellen Signer, secretary; Ryan Cross, marketing committee chair; Kevin Dibble, events committee chair and production manager at Kobos Coffee; Don Dominguez, membership committee chair and owner of K&F Coffee Roaster; Dan Welch, p.r. committee chair and owner of World Cup Coffee & Tea; and Matt Miletto, sponsorship committee chair and owner of Water Avenue Coffee Company. Learn more: www.oregoncoffee- board.org