Coffee competition to be held in Lae

THE 2016 coffee competition is to be staged this month in Lae, according to the Coffee Industry Corporation.
Chief executive officer Charles Dambui said coffee cuppers (tasters) are currently assessing more than 90 smallholder coffee samples at the regional competition in Aiyura, Eastern Highlands.
Dambuai in a statement said the first regional competition saw 36 coffee products out of 45 entries confirmed for the national event.
With the second regional competition currently underway in Aiyura, the number of coffee making it to national event in Lae is expected to increase as coffee harvest this season is bountiful compared to last coffee season.
In 2014, the Coffee Industry Corporation shifted its focus towards a tree-to-cup-policy as per the directive from the Ministry of Agriculture.
This directive created need to provide a platform for local farmers to showcase their coffee and participate in the export end of coffee business. The tree represented coffee growers in rural communities of Papua New Guinea while the cup represented consumers in developed countries.
“Connecting the tree to the cup remains a huge challenge for the CIC. But there is already gradual progress among high scoring coffees from the competition,” Dambuai said.
He said since its inception in 2014, more than 150 farmer groups had participated receiving more than K450,000 in export receipts from coffee sales.
A coffee expo showcasing coffee products and services in the industry would run from August 16 to 17 at the Sir Ignatius Kilage indoor sports complex.
The Coffee Industry Corporation operations and events manager Steven Tumae said the Niugini coffee expo would be open to the public for only two days.
“So far we have more than 15 companies and organisation who have confirmed their participation at the two-day expo.”