thiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) said it has hosted an “Origin Trip” to Ethiopia for members of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) from November 7-November 13, 2015 in association with USAID; a team consisting of 20 members who are part of the “Roasters Guild” of SCAA.

Roasters Guild “Origin Trip” to Ethiopia has seen the various aspects of the coffee supply chain including some innovative coffee production and processing technology practiced in Ethiopia.

The team has also visited coffee farms of Oromiya Coffee Cooperative Union, Edido Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative in Yirgacheffe and SUke Kuto Farm and ECX’s SCAA certified grading in Hawassa.

ECX in its statement reads the visit involved a discussion with Ethiopian coffee roasters about coffee roasting practices.

Ermias Eshetu, CEO of ECX said: “ECX is indeed very pleased to welcome the “Origin Trip” for the first time from SCAA, especially since the coffee is one of the major product traded in the Exchange.”

According to the trip Coordinator, Caitlyn Mcgehee, the trip has enabled the members to have a discussion among professionals who are working on coffee in Ethiopia.

The Roasters Guild was established in 2001. It is an official trade guild of the Specialty Coffee Association of America that consist of specialty roasters dedicated to the craft of roasting quality as the principle standard for success.

ECX is a new initiative for Ethiopia and the first of its kind in Africa.

Source: The Daily Monitor