Ms. Phoung | Real Bean Coffee Partner Farmer
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Phoung and I live in Dak Lak Province. I grow coffee, durian, pepper, and other agricultural products.
How did you come to start working with Real Bean Coffee?
I’ve been working with Loan since early 2019, when Real Bean Coffee started. When Real Bean Coffee was established, I heard that Loan was researching sustainable coffee grown using organic methods that are not harmful to farmers. It felt deeply meaningful to me because this was something the industry truly needed, and that’s what led me to start working with Loan. The idea of producing healthy coffee without the use of chemical fertilizers really resonated with me. I enjoy working with Loan because she is always kind to people and creates an environment where I can work happily. Most importantly, she encourages me to grow and improve myself. I’m truly glad that I can continue to grow alongside Real Bean Coffee.
Vietnam has many coffee distributors. What made you choose to work with Real Bean Coffee?
I live in Dak Lak, and most farmers here grow not only coffee but also other fruits. In the past, like many other farmers, I sold raw materials such as green coffee beans to traders or middlemen, who then supplied them to different companies. Because of that structure, I never really thought about where our coffee ended up being sold. I was only concerned with whether the middleman would buy our products. When I got to know Loan, I became interested in the idea of supplying directly to Real Bean Coffee bypassing traditional middlemen. I was also interested in the fact that farming without chemical inputs was a core part of their approach. That’s why I decided to supply coffee beans to them.
Changing long-standing farming practices can’t have been easy. What was that transition like for you?
At first, using chemical fertilizers was much more familiar to me. During the initial transition, we experienced some volatility in our yields and income. However, through continuous training on organic farming and avoiding synthetic chemical inputs on the trees, I came to understand that this approach is much more necessary for the environment. Although it took time to change my farming methods, I believe it has been a meaningful and worthwhile transition.
What do you see as benefits of working with Real Bean Coffee?
I like working with Real Bean Coffee because what I do now benefits not only myself, but also the environment and future generations. By no longer using chemical substances, this approach protects the health of farmers, our families, and myself. At the same time, we’re able to provide healthier coffee and fruit to customers.
Ms. Diem and I often attend sustainability-focused coffee training sessions together. After completing the training, we share what we’ve learned with other farmers. I really value being able to contribute in this way through my work with Real Bean Coffee.
Now, the climate and environment have changed significantly. They are already affecting farmers’ livelihoods. I hope that environmental and climate conditions will improve, and that farm quality will continue to increase so we can find ways to increase our income. I really hope we can protect the environment and the climate for the future, while also securing better livelihoods.
You’ve worked together for six years. How has this partnership affected your life beyond income?
From the founder to the staff, everyone at Real Bean Coffee is truly committed to supporting farmers through education and resources so they can practice environmentally friendly farming. The most immediate benefit we noticed was an improvement in our physical health.
In the past, handling hazardous chemical pesticides and fertilizers often harmed our health. We also had to go through chemical residue tests multiple times for export, constantly anxious about meeting stringent export standards. Since adopting eco-friendly farming methods with Real Bean Coffee, those concerns have disappeared.
By eliminating hazardous chemicals, our working environment has become safer and more dignified. Combined with the fair-trade pricing guaranteed by Real Bean Coffee, our livelihoods have reached a new level of stability. We truly couldn't ask for a better partner.
Ms. Phoung | Real Bean Coffee Partner Farmer
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Phoung and I live in Dak Lak Province. I grow coffee, durian, pepper, and other agricultural products.
How did you come to start working with Real Bean Coffee?
I’ve been working with Loan since early 2019, when Real Bean Coffee started. When Real Bean Coffee was established, I heard that Loan was researching sustainable coffee grown using organic methods that are not harmful to farmers. It felt deeply meaningful to me because this was something the industry truly needed, and that’s what led me to start working with Loan. The idea of producing healthy coffee without the use of chemical fertilizers really resonated with me. I enjoy working with Loan because she is always kind to people and creates an environment where I can work happily. Most importantly, she encourages me to grow and improve myself. I’m truly glad that I can continue to grow alongside Real Bean Coffee.
Vietnam has many coffee distributors. What made you choose to work with Real Bean Coffee?
I live in Dak Lak, and most farmers here grow not only coffee but also other fruits. In the past, like many other farmers, I sold raw materials such as green coffee beans to traders or middlemen, who then supplied them to different companies. Because of that structure, I never really thought about where our coffee ended up being sold. I was only concerned with whether the middleman would buy our products. When I got to know Loan, I became interested in the idea of supplying directly to Real Bean Coffee bypassing traditional middlemen. I was also interested in the fact that farming without chemical inputs was a core part of their approach. That’s why I decided to supply coffee beans to them.
Changing long-standing farming practices can’t have been easy. What was that transition like for you?
At first, using chemical fertilizers was much more familiar to me. During the initial transition, we experienced some volatility in our yields and income. However, through continuous training on organic farming and avoiding synthetic chemical inputs on the trees, I came to understand that this approach is much more necessary for the environment. Although it took time to change my farming methods, I believe it has been a meaningful and worthwhile transition.
What do you see as benefits of working with Real Bean Coffee?
I like working with Real Bean Coffee because what I do now benefits not only myself, but also the environment and future generations. By no longer using chemical substances, this approach protects the health of farmers, our families, and myself. At the same time, we’re able to provide healthier coffee and fruit to customers.
Ms. Diem and I often attend sustainability-focused coffee training sessions together. After completing the training, we share what we’ve learned with other farmers. I really value being able to contribute in this way through my work with Real Bean Coffee.
Now, the climate and environment have changed significantly. They are already affecting farmers’ livelihoods. I hope that environmental and climate conditions will improve, and that farm quality will continue to increase so we can find ways to increase our income. I really hope we can protect the environment and the climate for the future, while also securing better livelihoods.
You’ve worked together for six years. How has this partnership affected your life beyond income?
From the founder to the staff, everyone at Real Bean Coffee is truly committed to supporting farmers through education and resources so they can practice environmentally friendly farming. The most immediate benefit we noticed was an improvement in our physical health.
In the past, handling hazardous chemical pesticides and fertilizers often harmed our health. We also had to go through chemical residue tests multiple times for export, constantly anxious about meeting stringent export standards. Since adopting eco-friendly farming methods with Real Bean Coffee, those concerns have disappeared.
By eliminating hazardous chemicals, our working environment has become safer and more dignified. Combined with the fair-trade pricing guaranteed by Real Bean Coffee, our livelihoods have reached a new level of stability. We truly couldn't ask for a better partner.