EP 1537 – Part 2 of 5: Smallholder Coffee Farmers and Direct Trade — The Real Cost of “Direct” | Ana Donneys

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This episode is brought to you by Arcadia Green Coffee, Colombian coffee exporters taking fresh green coffee from Colombia to the world — farm to roastery, direct.
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Episode Description

This is Part 2 of our five-part series with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo.

Direct trade is often framed as the solution to structural imbalance in coffee. In this episode, we unpack what it actually requires from a smallholder producer.

Ana explains that direct trade takes years to build. It requires aligned values, transparent communication, and strong relationships. It also requires significant capital. Producers must sustain operations for months while waiting for contracts to be fulfilled and payments to clear.

Unlike traditional cooperative sales, which may provide faster liquidity, direct trade can amplify short-term financial stress, particularly during volatile periods.

We also explore how climate volatility compounds this stress. Rising unpredictability in rainfall patterns, yield instability, and multi-year climate disruption create structural fragility that direct trade alone cannot solve.

This episode offers a grounded perspective on how direct trade functions in practice — and who carries the burden when volatility increases.

Guest links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/

Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/