Civets are mongoose-like creatures that steal coffee cherries from the trees.
The coffee cherries are dried in the sun, and then dehulled in a dry state.
Farmers dry the coffee cherries whole, for up to three weeks.
In sun drying, the coffee cherries are placed on a clean floor and left to dry in the open air.
The coffee cherries are sorted by immersion in water.
The coffee cherries were ripening to red-purple and it would soon be time for picking.
Selection occurs if the civets choose to eat coffee cherries containing better beans.
A recent venture was producing a reportedly healthy drink from the pulp of coffee cherries.
In about 5-10% of any crop of coffee cherries, only a single bean, rather than the usual two, is found.
The farmers did not have the means to wash and prepare their coffee cherries to specifications in a timely manner.
