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FOAM NEWS STEAMING UP AROUND THE COFFEE WORLD HONDURAN VILLAGES HIT BY UNPRECEDENTED HAILSTORM Often the devastation from a disaster thousands of miles away appears as a mere blip on the radar before quickly fading with events of the day. A recent incident in Honduras is proving different for many residents of West Michigan and local non-profits who have been connected to those in the affected region for years. A hailstorm on April 2 wiped out crops and the livelihoods of 500 people in three agrarian villages in the remote mountains near La Unión, Honduras. Since that time, Unión MicroFinanza (UMF) and partner METAD (Medical, Education, Training and Development) are seeking to assist a desperate population and get farmers back on their feet. The storm brought hail as large as oranges and grapefruits raining down on the villages, leaving up to two feet of ice in places, some of which remained intact for two days despite 80ºF daytime temperatures. It smashed holes through tin roofs, stripped coffee trees of flowering buds and leaves, destroyed coffee processing equipment, and injured several people caught in the open. Most urgently, it has left people with no means of obtaining food until resources can be supplied to rejuvenate crops. METAD is initiating support by supplying 20 days worth of food, which will be coordinated with the local Catholic Church and UMF for distribution and oversight. UMF is leading the rebuilding effort, creating a storm recovery microloan fund specifically for farmers whose fields were damaged in the storm. Many farmers will see a reduction of 50 to 75% in this coming year's harvest, leaving them without the means to make the necessary investments for recuperation. The microloans provided by UMF will help bridge this gap until harvests have returned to pre- storm levels. More importantly, WHOLESALE COFFEE, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING. 916.454.1282 TEMPLECOFFEE.COM 16 barista magazine METAD and UMF see long-term opportunities for sustainability. "What is a disaster now and relief situation can become a scenario in which we can put these villages on stronger footing than before the storm," said METAD co-founder and CNN Heroes honoree Michelle Noordhof. "We cannot let people starve! But, we must provide a way forward that maintains independence. " METAD believes relief will need to be extended from 20 to 60 days, during which time UMF will begin working with farmers in UMF is seeking individuals and organizations to support the farm recovery effort until farmers are able to recuperate their fields. UMF aims to provide $20,000 of microloans in the affected villages. To support this effort, please visit www.unionmicrofinanza.org or contact Andrew Boyd at andrew.boyd@ unionmicrofinanza.org. Rigoberto Paz and brother Orlando Paz show an enormous clump of hail 24 hours after the hailstorm. Rigoberto Paz stands inside his solar dryer with coffee that will soon head to the U.S. the farm recuperation process by providing support and training as well as access to microloans which will allow the farmers to continue investing in their fields. "It is important that we move quickly to start the recuperation project," said UMF President Patrick Hughes. "Farms have been heavily damaged, but will be able to recover if we act now. However, if nothing is done, people could be left without an income for many years to come. And not just farm owners. If farm owners are forced to leave their fields unattended, entire communities that depend on work in these fields could lose their livelihoods."