In June 2015, Voice of America reported on the revival of specialty coffee in the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting the country’s exceptional growing potential and the challenges facing its coffee producers. The story covered a historic tasting competition in Bukavu, where international coffee experts evaluated coffees from 30 cooperatives using global specialty coffee standards.

The article features Higher Grounds co-founder Chris Treter, one of the competition’s organizers, discussing the significance of bringing producers, buyers, and coffee professionals together to evaluate Congolese coffees. The coverage also explores the barriers facing farmers, including conflict, limited infrastructure, and high export taxes. For Higher Grounds, the event represented an important opportunity to showcase the quality of Congolese coffee, strengthen relationships across the supply chain, and help producers gain greater access to international specialty markets.