Mr. Mengeche Derso owns and operates 15 hectares of land in the highlands of Gedeo Zone, located in the Southern Region of Ethiopia. This region, and Gedeo Zone in particular, is renowned for its production of high-quality Yirgachefe coffee.
At 62 years old, Mr. Mengeche brings years of farming experience to the area. His dedication to producing top-quality coffee has earned him recognition from government organisations. Mr. Mengeche has 12 children and along with four of his children, he actively works on the coffee farm. They use natural fertilizers such as animal manure and plant remnants to enrich the soil. His farm is one of the many in the area known for producing premium coffee.
The Single Farmer Project is the result of an effort to support Ethiopian producers with a marketplace for farm-traceable coffees. Back in 2012, during a turbulent time in Ethiopia's coffee exporting history, CEO of Cafe Imports Jason Long worked with an established cooperative to export some of the first ever truly “Farm Traceable” lots from Ethiopia. This was the first time a roaster could highlight the individual farmer for their Ethiopian Coffee. It was the start of an incredible project and truly began the movement for traceability in Ethiopia as we see more often today.