Saffron Coffee Directly Assists Growers

Saffron Coffee is on the move all year long, from planting to harvesting to roasting and brewing. There’s no low season in Luang Prabang. The “busy-ness” of harvest (ripe cherry purchase) and the high tourist season (October to March) presents a hectic schedule of planting and cultivation.

Lao Coffee Promotion staff connect Saffron Coffee’s 850-plus smallholder farming families to the company’s processing of uniquely shade-grown, northern Lao Arabica coffee.

In December each year, subject to water availability in their villages, farmers have their own seed beds and coffee nursery to tend, or the company delivers seedlings in June and July.

Saffron believes the best way to support hilltribe families is through direct assistance: ongoing training, support, and guaranteeing a market for all the coffee they grow. Direct assistance doesn’t guarantee success for every farming family or for every tree planted, but it takes big strides in that direction.

Saffron’s partner families are spread throughout 35 villages in Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Houaphanh, and Phongsaly provinces, so direct assistance means staff spend many hours travelling the windy roads of northern Laos.

In March and April, farmers’ plots are surveyed, and undergrowth is cleared for planting in June and July.

In 2019, Saffron’s partner farmers will plant about 60,000 new trees. That’s about 25 hectares.

Saffron is proud to place quality, local, Lao coffee in the hands (and mouths!) of thousands of visitors to Luang Prabang through its Espresso, Brew Bar, and Roastery on the Mekong River, and the small Alley takeaway store in Ban Houa Xieng.

Visit Saffron Coffee or email info@saffroncoffee.com for more information.