Description

Kimel plantation was first established in 1974 by an Australian, Bobby Gibbs; it is now owned by traditional landowners, the Opais being the main tribe. Although locally owned, the plantation is managed by expatriate personnel with extensive experience in plantation management. The plantation has a permanent workforce of 432, and they are housed on the estate in bush housing. The estate also provides schooling for the children and medical facilities for the workforce and their dependents. Clean running water has been made available to the estate workers by way of a community project financed by one of their overseas clients, and its implementation is overseen by the estate’s management. Since the estate is located along the Kimel river, from which it derived its name, it has access to good clean water for the processing of its crop. The estate’s management also implements some ecology friendly policies with regard to environmental issues, such as the recycling of pulp and water used during the wet processing. The cultivation is conducted under shade trees, like Albizias and Gravilleas.

Location     Town of Banz, Western Highlands, Waghi Valley (approx. 50km South of Mount Hagen)
Altitude      5,183 Feet (1,580 Meters)
Varietal      Mondo Novo, Blue Mountain, Typica, Arusha Caturra and Catimor
Process       Fully Washed
Drying        Sun dried on patios
Harvest      March – April
Export        May – August

-Royal Coffee N.Y., Inc.