In Kiswahili, they say “harambee.” It’s both an organizing principle and a tradition in Kenya, from the highland smallholds of which come the January Coffee of the Month. Harambee is the nation’s official motto and appears on its coat of arms.
In 1969 there was a new baby in the house, but not much sleep. That’s when I met Juan Valdez and his wonderful coffee. Actor Carlos Sánchez Jaramillo played the role from 1969 to 2006, having taken over from Cuban actor José F. Duval, who established the role in 1958. Jaramillo was succeeded in 2006 by Carlos Castañeda, a coffee grower from the town of Andes, Antioquia, Colombia. And all three actors were accompanied by the lovable, loaded mule Conchita (“little shell”), sometimes called Lana.
This Coffee Tale is longer than most, recognizing the importance of the Darkhorse Lodge project.
Operation Enduring Freedom began October 7, 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks. It started with air strikes in Afghanistan against Al Qaeda and the Taliban and expanded to other countries. OEF officially ended 13 years later, though operations in Afghanistan continue under the name Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Read more
