Brazil Specialty Coffee Association To Host Direct Trade Meetings At September Conference

BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL (August 5, 2013) – In a new initiative to develop direct trade relationships between buyers and sellers of Brazil’s specialty coffees, a cupping exchange at the 8th annual Espaço Café Brasil event in September will allow coffee buyers from around the world to taste a wide selection of available coffees while meeting in person with the farmers behind them.
The concept, spearheaded by the Brazil Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA) and funded by small business development agency SEBRAE, is to put a multinational audience of buyers in direct contact with farmers who may otherwise not have access to overseas specialty markets. Similarly, the event offers the international buying community an opportunity to meet new potential supplier-partners in person and sample over 100 fresh crop coffees at one convenient location.
“This effort will be a win-win opportunity for both our farmers and international visitors,” stated BSCA Executive Director Vanusia Nogueira. “Brazil is a large country with numerous coffee farms, many of which are off-the-radar of the international buying community,” Ms. Nogueira continued. “We believe bringing all parties together in one place and allowing them to do business on their own terms will help to foster new relationships that will benefit buyers and sellers alike for years to come.”
Cuppings and producer meetings will be conducted daily during the operating hours of the 8th annual Espaço Café Brasil in Belo Horizonte, September 9th-12th 2013.
The event, part of International Coffee Week in Belo Horizonte is the largest annual coffee exposition in the world’s largest coffee producing country. Other events at the same location include the 2013 Brazilian Barista Championship, Coffee of the Year Competition, International Conference on Arabica Naturals and ‘pre-selection’ or preliminary round of cupping of the prestigious Cup of Excellence competition for Brazil’s early harvest contest.
For more information or to participate as a member of the cupping exchange, please contact: (in USA/Canada) Andrew Hetzel at ahetzel@cafemakers.com or (worldwide) Vanusia Nogueira at exec@bsca.com.br.
For additional information about the Espaço Café Brasil event, visit http://espacocafebrasil.com.br.
 
About the Brazil Specialty Coffee Association
Founded in 1991, the Brazil Specialty Coffee Association is a non-profit member association created to elevate the standards of excellence and enhance value in the production and marketing of Brazilian coffees.
In addition to providing BSCA Certification™ for quality coffees and educational opportunities for its membership, the association implements environmental preservation projects through cooperation with private or public entities and supports the advancement of science and production techniques benefiting the global coffee industry.
In 1999, BSCA was a founding member and the original host to the Cup of Excellence competition, which operates the world’s most esteemed coffee quality contests in 11 nations. For more information about BSCA, visit http://www.bsca.com.br.