Description
Virunga Origins coffee is grown in the mountainous regions of Virunga Park, bordering the Rwenzori and Tshiaberimu Mountains, some of the finest Arabica coffee-growing lands in the world.
It is cultivated by more than 6000 small-scale producers, most of whom are women and have Fair Trade, Organic, and Rainforest Alliance certification, practicing sustainable agriculture for the development of their region and the conservation of the Park.
The farmers grow Arabica coffee of the Bourbon and Rumangabo varieties and use the wet processing method to achieve the best possible quality.
These coffee growers are affiliated with two vibrant young cooperatives; Kawa Kanzururu on the western flanks of the Rwenzori mountains and Coopade on the highlands to the northwest of Lake Edward, and supported by Virunga Origins and the Virunga National Park.
In addition to receiving a fair price for their coffee, higher than the local average, Virunga Origins roasts its coffee locally in DRC. This is a way to keep the added value within the local communities and support the development of new skills.