Australia, Skybury coffee

The family run estate is located at Mareeba, approximately 55 Kilometres to the west of Cairns in the Atherton Tablelands of northern Queensland, Australia at an elevation of about 550–600 masl. Skybury has well drained soil, no frost and an annual rainfall of around 800mm per year providing the ideal climate for growing our Bourbon variety of Arabica coffee. In 2017, Skybury released its first harvest of shade grown coffee.The 100% Arabica coffee trees were grown initially in the shade of papaya plants, giving the young coffee protection in its first two to three years of growth following planting. Skybury is the largest grower of red papaya in Australia and a major coffee exporter, meaning it made economic as well as environmental sense to make papaya the overstory crop and coffee the understory. The virgin shade grown coffee is a first for Australia, as well as Skybury. Ian and Marion (founders) have always strived to be leaders and innovators when it comes to sustainable agricultural management principles. Skybury practices include water conservation, renewable power, erosion control, integrated pest management, dual cropping and employing local people.