February 2019

February 2019: Our fourth feature.

Ethics and passion, passion and ethics. The story behind Rabbit Island Coffee Co. and our February feature really resonated with us, especially when Fox put into words, what we were thinking when we started The Snobby Collective. 

This feature saw us explore;

The Country:

Coffee was first introduced to East Timor in the 1860’s by the
Portuguese and by the mid 1860’s was the source of more
than 50% of their total exports, albeit controlled by a small
amount of Portuguese land owners. A little over 100 years
Later, Indonesia took control of the land and coffee
Production declined significantly.
Since achieving independence in 2002 (a long and traumatic
road, enduring some of the atrocities of modern times) coffee
production has gone from strength to strength, now
representing 80% of East-Timor’s total exports and their only
cash crop.

East-Timor has less than optimal conditions for coffee,
Such as poor soil fertility and a short rainy season, the coffee
is 100% shade grown in the wild, with even the smallest
improvements leading to vast improvements in production
and crop quality.
It also boasts its own hybrid variety, Tim Tim or HDT, derived
from spontaneous mating of Arabica and Robusta, this variety
is found around the world, known for its resistance from
disease.

Having never introduced chemicals or pesticides, East Timor
have gained international organic certification.

Direct Trade:

Sourced from 50 small farms in Timor-Leste (East Timor),
this special coffee represents the fruition of a long time
dream for Wayne Green, owner of Wholemeal Cafe in
Golden Bay, N.Z.

Sourcing green beans from a single origin source allows
Wayne to pay better prices to the farmers for better
quality beans.
Since the relationship began 2012, Wayne has imported
12 tons of green beans from Timor-leste, with an
additional 8 tons being shipped this year.

The efforts of direct trade initiatives such as these make
positive changes to the lives of often small and
disadvantaged communities.
Wayne visits East Timor each year and he is the sole
financial contributor to 3 villages, Moubissi, Maulau and
Laclubar.

Click here for more on Wayne Green and his story

Ethics: 

Before thinking our coffee, or anyone else’s coffee is too
expensive please take a minute to think about the journey
coffee takes before it gets to you.

Generations of farmers, the vast majority in developing
Countries, grow and process this amazing product which
is often severely undervalued.
The vast majority of farms operating at a loss.
Experts in their trade and most don’t even earn a living income.

Credit: Fox – Rabbit Island Coffee

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