About the Producer

Rwanda Trading Company (RTC) was established in 2009 with the goal of fostering positive social change. The organisation focuses on providing economic freedom and security for smallholder farmers by building resilient and transparent supply chains. RTC is responsible for processing and exporting 25% of Rwanda’s annual coffee production, and more than 80% of their coffee is fully traceable to the farmer.

Gatare is one of the oldest washing stations in Rwanda, established in 2003. It has earned a strong reputation as one of the first stations to produce high-quality coffee for export. Situated in the Nyamasheke district of the Western Province, Gatare is surrounded by rolling hills blanketed with coffee trees. The station has participated in the Cup of Excellence (COE) multiple times, consistently achieving top rankings.

With a recently installed 4T Pinhalense Eco Pulper, Gatare can process up to 1,000 tons of cherries. The coffee parchment is dried on raised beds for 15 to 22 days before undergoing dry milling. Coffee cultivation in this region is deeply rooted in the local culture. RTC is committed to supporting farmers through agronomy training, access to pre-harvest loans and a coffee tree rejuvenation program, which provides the community of around 600 farmers with 50,000 trees each year.