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cerns, etc., that we have started exploring relationships with both single estates as well as small farmer groups
beginning to form micro-coops. As is true at origins with well-developed farm-level marketing, these kinds of
partnerships are enticing for even greater quality and relational potential than is possible with big group organiza-
tions.While touring Kirinyaga during early-November this year, we met with the newly established “Slopes of 8”
micro-cooperative. As its name implies, this cooperative is made up of eight estates that have banded together to
market their coffees together with the aim of establishing long-term relationships with buyers. The project has
garnered so much interest from neigbouring farms that the leader of Slopes of 8, Joseph Karaba, is consulting oth-
ers on how to begin their own micro-cooperatives.
In February, we will hopefully cup lots from a couple of these newly established coops and start some new
partnerships.We have already had a lot of success with one small estate farmer relationship that was established
two seasons ago: John Njoroge owner of Kiambu and Kiriani estates, who has produced great coffees for us two
seasons in a row. The current harvest will represent our third season working with him and we were thrilled to
see that he had invested in and constructed beautiful, sturdy, shaded drying beds, even though the drought brought
on by El Niño/La Niña earlier this year has left him with a disappointing volume of coffee this season.Unfortu-
nately for farmers all over Kenya, the current harvest will lead to lower than average volumes this year, which
often leads to higher overall cup quality. Look forward to sharing our selections with you in a few months.

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