STiR coffee and tea magazine

22 STiR coffee and tea / Issue 2, 2017 (April/May) Coffee Report: Dan Shryock SCA Opposes US Travel Ban The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) opposes the pro- posed US immigra- tion restrictions ordered in January and again in March following court injunctions. SCA, which represents the world- wide specialty coffee industry, cited its concern for members who may plan to attend events scheduled in the US. The organization's statement, issued three days after the initial ban, said: "As an organization committed to representing the specialty coffee community all around the world, we are deeply concerned about the impact this may have on our members, and espe- cially those hoping to attend our events in the United States. We are assessing the situation and would invite any members from these countries hoping to attend our upcoming Global Specialty Coffee Expo in Seattle this April to please get in touch. As stated on the home page of our website, we celebrate and nurture diversity. We oppose any effort to divide or segregate our community and will be monitoring this development carefully." CQI Honors Steve Walls Steve Walls, a longtime evangelist for coffee producers around the world, will be honored in April by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) as the 2017 recipient of the institute's Leadership Medal of Merit. In announcing the award, CQI cited Walls "for his tireless work to improve the plight of the coffee producers, as well as his innovative approaches and extensive collaborations on development projects." Over the years, Walls has worked for many aid organizations, including the Canadian International Development Agency, TechnoServe, Chemonics International, and Winrock. He most recently worked as Winrock's chief of party for USAID-funded Value Chains for Rural Development before retiring. GERMANY La Marzocco Opens in Germany Espresso machine manufacturer La Marzocco is adding a branch office in Germany, the company announced Feb. 7. Citing "a booming moment in Germany within the specialty coffee sector," the Florence-based company decided to create its ninth branch, La Marzocco Deutschland GmbH. The new venture is in collaboration with long-time partner Pasquale De Falco, from "Nuova Ricambi Deutschland", the official La Marzocco spare parts supplier in Germany. La Marzocco Deutschland, located in the city of Maulbronner near Stutt- gart, will distribute espresso machines and spare parts in the country. Learn more by emailing Pasquale De Falco at info.de@lamarzocco.com. INDIA India blocks Vietnam Beans Citing "repeated interception of quarantine pests," India has temporarily suspended the importation of several commodities from Vietnam including coffee beans. Coffee, bamboo, black pepper, cinnamon, cassia, and dragon fruit are all listed in the ban that took effect March 7, according to multiple reports. India's decision follows Vietnam's similar decision to suspend the importation of peanuts, cassia seed, cocoa beans, haricot beans, and tamarind from India. Officials in India did not say when the suspension would be lifted or specify the pest found in the shipments from Vietnam. On the other side, Vietmanese officials reported that all five of the products bound from India reportedly were contaminated with Caryedon serratus (Olivier), commonly known as peanut beetle, which is subject to Vietnam's plant quarantine. Future site of Starbuck's Reserve Roastery in Milan Steve Walls, left ITALY Starbucks' Next Shot By late 2018, coffee lovers in espresso- mad Milan will be able to get their shot at Starbucks' Reserve Roastery. The American retail coffee giant announced a new roastery will open in Piazza Cordusio, a short stroll from the famous Duoma di Milano, the Teatro alla Scala, and the high-end Galleria retail fashion center. The Milan roastery, to be located in the historic 25,500-square-foot palazzo Delle Poste building, will become the fifth worldwide for Starbucks and the first in Europe. "It took us some time to find it, but once I walked through the former Post Office building, I knew that it would be the perfect location to honor the craft of coffee and pay respect to the uniquely Italian culture in which it will be served," said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chair- man and c.e.o. Once the roastery opens, Italian licensee and business partner Percassi will open a series of Starbucks stores in Milan. Each will be "designed and curated to respect the local community and unique Milanese context," according to Starbucks statement. It is estimated the new openings will create about 350 jobs in Italy. KENYA New USA Export Goal Officials in Kenya want a larger share of coffee shipments to the US and plans are being made to make it happen. Kenya is planning to double its coffee exports to the US, a population that drinks more coffee than anywhere else, Africanews reports. "North America is a big market for specialty coffee and we expect the

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