From May 22nd till June 4th this year, a melting pot of vibrant Gorokan Culture together with Goroka’s locally grown Coffee, will be on display to greet visitors to the annual PNG Coffee festival.
Founder Norman Carver initially started the event with the intent to showcase the provinces’ number one cash crop. With displays of the bean at different stages of development – from seedling, shoots and cherries ready to be harvested to the final packaged product and brewed coffee tasting – the show serves as an agricultural exhibit for attendees.
The event targets children and students to encourage their interest in coffee through the school programme. However, growers and other interested parties alike also attend to receive in person expert advice from industry specialists and to learn from buyers and distributors the quality of beans needed.
Hundreds of tourists from around the world also fly in to see the festival first hand with their main interest not only being in the coffee growing and harvesting aspect of the show but other attractions such as the sing-sing competition, entertainment from local comedians in the Raun Raun Theatre, traditional wear fashion parade and to sample local cooked dishes, fruit and veggies on sale.
