STiR coffee and tea magazine

Volume 3, Number 6

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54 STiR tea & coffee industry international E xpoEspeciales was four intense days of simultaneous activities with one goal: to promote Colombian specialty coffee. Organized by the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros FNC (National Coffee Federation), the Feria Internacional de Cafés Especiales (ExpoEspeciales) was jointly produced with the Antioquia Government. FNC, which is owned by 500,000 Colombian farmers, has worked with Antioquia governors for years but "this initiative is different as it presents to the market a regional Colombian coffee with its own identity and builds on the work we have done in other regions on terroirs and denominations of origin," said FNC c.m.o. Luis F. Samper. Dur- ing its 87-year-history most of the work focused on infrastructure and farm support programs. "We also have worked in conflict resolution and environmental protection initiatives," said Samper. The show's 70 exhibits covered 13,000 sq. ft. (1,200 m 2 ). There were lectures and workshops and local crafts (jewelry and art) on display along with agricultural ma- chinery and equipment. The event drew 7,000 attendees. Three quarters were small coffee growers seeking greater knowledge about coffee cultivation and processing and machine innovations. Coffee lovers were entertained with tastings, the national barista championship competition and food pairing activities. ExpoEspeciales also hosted its first business roundtable, an opportunity for grow- ers to personally present their harvest to 39 international buyers who purchased $1.6 million of coffee during the event. The 528 face-to-face meetings are expected to yield commercial agreements worth $10.8 million in the near future, according to organizers. Buyers from 15 countries participated. "The business matchmaking forum offered us a platform to make direct trade with growers," said Colombian Coffee Growers Federation commercial manager, Carlos Gonzalez. "We want to facilitate access by coffee producers to international markets in an efficient, business-friendly format, and it was deemed a success." Colombia has marketed its coffee collectively since the 60's, a strategy that has not presented Colombia's best estate and single-origin coffees to the world. "This is our strategy to make our presence in the market stronger," explains Luiz Genaro, manager of FNC. The roundtable is a partnership between Proexport (the Colombian government's promotion agency) and FNC. The matchmaking forum was a unique opportunity to make new contacts, allowing exporters to promote their products and discover new business opportunities, market needs, trends, and interests of potential clients. ExpoEspeciales Roundtable generates $1.6 million Diego Fernando Campos, above was named Colombian barista champion. Angelica Maria Arroyave Cordoba was named national cupping champion. Roundtable participants met 39 buyers MEDELLIN, CoLoMBIA By Kelly Stein

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