Solar Trade Corporation

Solar Trade is offering a package of complementary products, or "solutions," that create value and competitive advantages for our customers:Solar/Biomass Coffee Drying SystemsThese patented systems use solar thermal collectors to provide the heat for drying and consume one-tenth the electricity consumption of conventional drying systems. A biomass burner, in which coffee parchment is used as a heat source, provides a backup during cloudy or rainy periods or optional night operation. The drying systems provide significant cost savings through reductions in energy consumption, while also improving quality in the drying process. STC's solar coffee dryers use one-tenth the electricity of conventional dryers in a region where energy costs are increasing at 20% per year. Energy is the second largest component of production costs after labor. STC's solar coffee dryers eliminate the use of fuel wood or diesel entirely. Deforestation associated with coffee drying is equivalent to 1.25 square inches of forest lost per cup of coffee. STC's solar coffee dryers increase quality by drying at the optimum temperature and duration and offer producers the opportunity to strengthen their "environmentally responsible" image by selling solar-dried coffee to the specialty market through STC and its branded Café Solar®. Café Solar® solar-dried coffee-coffee dried using the Solar/Biomass Drying SystemsSTC has introduced Café Solar® solar dried coffee to the specialty coffee market. The coffee dried using STC's technology is roasted and packaged locally and sold to a variety of retail outlets, and is available through the internet.