Sumatra FTO RKG Coop Micro-lot

• Origin: Indonesia
• Region: Aceh, Sumatra
• Farm: Ratu Ketiara Gayo (RKG) Cooperative
• Variety: Regional catimor, typica cultivars
• Altitude: 3937 -5249 feet
• Process: Wet-hulled and patio dried in the sun
• Grade: Grade-1
• Certifications: Fair Trade, Organic

Ratu Ketiara Gayo (RKG) is the Ketiara group’s newest business unit: a women’s cooperative established in 2017 and co-lead by three of Ms. Rahmah’s young protégés: Ms. Indayana as chairwoman; Ms. Dini as quality control; and Ms. Murul Kemala as treasurer. RKG represents a younger generation of farmers, 971 in total, 80% of whom are women, and all of whom are focused on top quality. Together RKG members farm a total of 1,234 hectares of coffee.

The original cooperative was Fair Trade certified in 2011 and has grown from 38 original farmer members to almost 2000, and into multiple different sub-companies to service different qualities, processing styles, and certifications. Ms. Rahmah and her leadership team are in constant communication with their members.  The price of coffee in Sumatra, while somewhat protected due to the limited supply of its terroir, is still extremely volatile between farmers and collectors, and the Ketiara group is as transparent with their farmers as they are with their buyers when it comes to navigating local cherry markets, exporter competition, and quality expectations.