A local coffee shop partners with farmers in Honduras, to provide residents of Lacombe freshly-roasted coffee.

In 2008, Rick Abma and his family moved to Honduras for four months seeking a new adventure.

As the months passed, he became good friends with local coffee famers and his passion for coffee grew.

Abma began roasting their coffee in his home six years ago.

The founder of Good Neighbour Coffee, Abma says he’s excited to share his knowledge of coffee with the community.

“Developing a nice blend, as we put here, between neighbours and coffee and it’s just a natural fit and people get to see how it works and eventually catch onto what they can do to participate. Not only in drinking it, but doing something in their neighbourhood.”

He adds there’s much more to the business than just coffee.

“It’s a vision that has become a reality that has more than just a profit margin attached to it. It’s such a great joy to be part of the farmers who are there filled with joy and talking to them about how this thing keeps growing.”

Abma is working with a co-op that employs 55 farmers and impacts 250 families in Central Honduras.

Good Neighbour CoffeeHouse celebrated their Grand Opening on Saturday, where dignitaries including Mayor Steve Christie and MLA Ron Orr stopped by to show their support.

Dennis Hainsworth, Dave Hughes, and Nathan Toornstra are among the Board of Directors, along with Abma, who have launched the new coffee shop.