US coffee traders visit farmers

 By ZACHERY PER
MEMBERS of Apo Angra Kange (AAK) coffee cooperative shed tears of joy when they tasted their own coffee brewed in the United States and packed in packets bearing their name.
International coffee Master Roasters, importers, promoters and sellers of AAK Coffee visited cluster groups under AAK coffee corporative in Chimbu (Angra) and Eastern Highlands (Apo) over the weekend.
“Our sweat has been blessed when we see our own coffee brewed, packaged and labelled as coffee from Apo Angra Kange cooperative. We also drank our own coffee. It is an amazing experience,” Ben Siwi, the cluster 12 leader of Angra Cooperative, said.
The international coffee traders brought with them packages of coffee roasted from AAK coffee beans, they brewed for the owners of the tree to drink.
“For us to have a direct market link with the international roasters, buyers, promoters and importers is now a dream come true,” AAK general manager Brian Kuglame said.
An earlier visit by Taylor Mork to PNG Coffee Exports and AAK, he took some coffee from the cooperative to USA, roasted it to become a top quality, today AAK coffee is now making inroads into USA, Europe and Asian coffee markets.