Yukro is grown by 579 smallholder farmers in the Agaro region of Oromia, specifically in the Jimma zone of Western Ethiopia. Coffees from Agaro are among the first Ethiopian coffees harvested each year, with the harvest in January and the first shipments arriving as early as February, depending on the year. Unlike early-harvest coffees, Agaro comes from a region with an earlier growing season. After arrival, all coffees typically undergo a blooming process over weeks or months, but Agaros are unique, continuing to develop their flavours for over six months post-arrival and peaking during this extended period. The Jimma zone, like the rest of Ethiopia, is divided into several woredas (districts) and kebeles (communities), each contributing unique terroirs. In Geera woreda lies the Wanja Kersa kebele, home to the Yukro washing station.
Wanja Kersa is characterized by high rainfall throughout the growing season, with harvest occurring from mid-October to late January. The farms are situated at altitudes ranging from 1800 to 2200 meters above sea level. Coffee is the community's primary source of income, cultivated on very small farms ranging from 0.1 to 2 hectares.
Producers in Wanja Kersa practice intercropping, planting false banana trees and maize to provide shade, while making planting decisions based on the age and needs of the coffee plants. The soil in the area is a highly fertile sandy loam that retains moisture well and drains effectively, allowing for spectacular coffee quality without the need for fertilizers.
The farmers of Wanja Kersa are Oromo and speak Oromo. They uphold certain ancestral customs and lead a lifestyle centred on coffee farming. Many families in the area face challenges such as a lack of electricity and access to drinking water. Children often don’t start school until age 9 because they must travel long distances to reach the nearest school. As a result of this education gap, many young people in the area dedicate themselves to agriculture, cultivating potatoes, coffee, maize, or false banana trees on their parents’ or neighbors’ farms.
