EHP group win coffee contest

THE Timuza Business Group from Kainantu in Eastern Highlands are the Green Golden Cup Winners of the 2016 PNG Coffee Competition in Lae, scoring 85.75 points.
The Tibunofi group, also from Eastern Highlands, were runners-up with 85.55 points, followed by Untoa Kosa also from the province with 84.49 points.
Tying at fourth place were Kosem South Waghi of Jiwaka and the Roros Coffee Cooperative of Morobe with 84.18 points each.
The Goroka Community Development Association came fifth with 84.03 points, Kosem North Waghi from Jiwaka sixth with 83.98 points, Buyana of Morobe with 83.63 points in seventh place, Iwaki of Eastern Highlands with 83.33 points in eighth place and Napi Nots of Morobe claiming the ninth place with 83.13 points.
The week-long event was run by the Coffee Industry Cooperation and the competition was judged by international coffee judges from Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand.
A total of 128 coffees entered the event. It was short-listed to 10.
It also featured 13 Robusta coffees from East Sepik. The Buokotom Cooperative Society received the sweet Robusta cup award.
Senior quality officer Rose Romalus said the competition used the Q-Grading cupping and scoring system, it is universally acceptable.
Agriculture Minister Tommy Tomscoll told farmers last Friday that as long as PNG continued to supply quality coffee, the market would not be a problem.
“That is the confidence I cannot give to the buyers. The onus is on you as a farmer,” he said.
Sam Say, a judge at the competition, said it was an experience to see the quality of PNG coffee.