Myanmar Coffee and the War
High up in the mountains of Myanmar, heading northeast towards Naga, is a story of hope and a story of perseverance.
But it has been a really hard year.
A New Bright Lantern
People ask me, “Who starts a new business in the middle of a war?”
I guess I do.
Trading Opium Poppies for Coffee Trees
For impoverished farmers in Myanmar, growing poppies for heroin is about 17 times more lucrative than growing rice. But to do it comes at a high cost. Many farmers are forced to compromise...
Value Your Mom Understands
Your mom cares about ethics and fairness.
We go beyond "fair" with our direct trade model. We pay above market value for the harvest, eliminate the middle people, and put money directly into the hands of the farmers.
One Coffee Farmer's Story of Hope
Most people who drink coffee don’t understand the struggle that many coffee farmers face. Here in Myanmar, there are too many stories of exploitation, tragedy, and waste. But I want to tell you a story of hope and triumph.
Coffee is a Comin'
We have some exciting news to share.
On Sept 7, the same day Myanmar declared a state of civil war, Isaiah and his coffee production team got this year’s harvest of green coffee onto a ship heading for Vancouver.
The Bridge That Coffee Built
The problem was access.
The villagers who lived on the mountain could only access the closest town, and the closest hospital, by travelling through the rice fields at the bottom of the mountain. The existing road was made of dirt and was best negotiated by two-wheelers, which made it difficult to transport anything, whether people, produce or supplies.
A Beehive of Activity in Myanmar's Uncertain Times
Far away from the noise of the protesters gathering en masse in all the big cities of the country, Lighthouse Coffee Mountain begins to "buzz" with activity like a beehive as soon as the clock hits 8 AM --- every morning.
Coffee Mountain Gets A Nurse
My name is Zar Zar. My dream of becoming a certified nurse has just become reality.
I was beyond excited, when I was told I would be sent to nursing school and financially supported by the Lighthouse Coffee Community Development Fund.
Why It Matters
“But then you paid us cash immediately upon receiving the cherries. I was shocked. You also taught us not to strip the coffee tree of all its fruit but to only pick the ripe cherries for the best tasting coffee. The way you spoke to us and treated us with dignity gave me hope!”
Coffee farmer.