News

Volcano Eruption in Eastern Congo
Volcano Eruption in Eastern Congo
The Mount Nyiragongo volcano erupted in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this past weekend. The eruption and lava flow have severely affected the city of Goma and other... Read more...
How Does Collaboration Drive Change and Social Impact in the Coffee Supply Chain?
How Does Collaboration Drive Change and Social Impact in the Coffee Supply Chain?
Coffee is one of the most traded agricultural exports in the entire world. It supports an utterly enormous industry. In 2018, global coffee exports alone were worth $30.9 billion, according... Read more...
Examining Instability and Inequality in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Examining Instability and Inequality in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the second-largest country in Africa. It is home to some 87 million people. Despite the fact that the DRC is rich in natural... Read more...
Cooperative Coffees Allocates $130K for Immediate COVID Relief for Coffee Farmers
Cooperative Coffees Allocates $130K for Immediate COVID Relief for Coffee Farmers
Photo: Partner farmers at the Pangoa Cooperative in Satipo, Peru Higher Grounds is a proud member-owner of Cooperative Coffees, the world's only fair trade, organic coffee importing cooperative. We buy our... Read more...
On the Ground Update: Gender Equity in DRC
On the Ground Update: Gender Equity in DRC
This project update comes to us from board members of On the Ground, Higher Grounds' partner nonprofit working on sustainable development in coffee growing regions. To support On the Ground's important... Read more...
Saveur du Kivu - DRC Coffee on the Rise
Saveur du Kivu - DRC Coffee on the Rise
Saveur du Kivu (SduK) is a celebration of the reemergence of coffee in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the specialty coffee cupping competition and annual meeting for representatives throughout... Read more...
The Congo Comeback
The Congo Comeback
The “Congo Comeback” showcases how an inclusive, collaborative, and equitable market system translates to stronger, more resilient, and diverse value chains. Read more...
Participants in a literacy workshop for women in South Kivu, DRC, 2019
Sustainability, Part 4: We need to collaborate towards sustainability and development at the same time.
When our values align to transcend competition between specialty coffee importers, roasters, and retailers, collaboration across the supply chain offers benefits that standard isolated markets can’t. Read more...
The 17 UNG Global Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainability, Part 3: Let's Put People First
A circular economic model is the vehicle required for change within the specialty coffee industry. When we operate along a continuous circle across our supply chain, we can build wealth and expertise... Read more...
Sustainability, Part 1: Inequality Rules the World
Sustainability, Part 1: Inequality Rules the World
Coffee could change the world. But first we need a disruptive innovation to evolve our trading system. This post is the first of four installments diving deep into the issue... Read more...
farmers of Kawa Kanzururu cooperative 2018
Out of Conflict, Into Hope: the Coffee of DRC
For years, since their coffee sector was basically decimated by war, Congolese farmers, including those who are now members of the Kawa Kanzururu cooperative, were forced to smuggle their coffee across... Read more...
Introducing Kawa Kanzururu: the First Coffee of its Kind
Introducing Kawa Kanzururu: the First Coffee of its Kind
Through our exploration of Congolese coffee and relationships developed there over the past few years, we have been introduced to the farmers of Kawa Kanzururu--a young cooperative demonstrating an innovative economic... Read more...