Women Win Record Cup of Excellence Awards in 2017
Women coffee growers did exceptionally well in Brazil Cup of Excellence competitions in 2017. Rejane Faleiros de Moraes from Fazenda Boa Esperanca in Ibiraci municipality (Minas Gerais) and her children, pose with Alliance for Coffee Excellence co-founder Susie Spindler following the Cup of Excellence awards presentation.
Cup of Excellence judges awarded top honors to women for an unprecedented 10 lots of Brazilian coffee in 2017. Women growers, who spanned the country’s coffee regions, were recognized for excellence with cupping scores among the top 25 rated lots in both naturals and pulped naturals.
The competition began with 850 samples judged locally. Finalist coffees were cupped by an international panel of coffee buyers and experts.
Simone Sampaio, from Araponga/Matas de Minas, featured in STIR’s July/August issue, placed in both categories. Other winners include Grasiela Maris de Souza from Fazenda Fortaleza in Sao Goncalo do Sapucai; Nazareth Dias Pereira from Fazenda do Sertao in Carmo de Minas; Rejane Faleiros de Moraes from Fazenda Boa Esperanca in Ibiraci; Cristina Dias Sampaio Gerolimich from Fazenda Caracol in Araponga; Clara Minamihara from Minamihara Santa Maria in Cristais Paulista; Maria Jose Bitencourt Lima Araujo from Sitio LM in Araponga; Luiza Araujo Miranda from Sitio Bocaina and Sandra Lelis da Silva from Sitio Serra, both in Araponga Minas Gerais.