Yukro

The story

The Yukro Cooperative was originally established in 1977 in the village of Wanja Qarsa, located in the Gera District of Jimma. While the cooperative has existed for decades, it did not gain significant prominence in the specialty coffee market until approximately ten years ago following the implementation of a Technoserve project. Today, the cooperative operates under the umbrella of the Kata Muduga Cooperative Union.

Challenges

Historically, the cooperative faced difficulties in accessing the specialty market until external investment and infrastructure projects were introduced to the region.

Innovations

The cooperative transitioned from producing primarily natural processed coffee to high-quality washed coffee following the installation of a central washing station by Technoserve. They utilize a process involving mechanical de-pulping, an overnight soak, and sun drying.