By Arifa Tahmina
As we all know, March is Women’s History Month and March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD)! Both are a time to celebrate and appreciate the incredible women who shape the world with their strength, resilience and passion. Let’s take a moment together to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroines of the coffee industry — the women who work tirelessly to produce the beans that fuel our mornings and days.
To be frank, women in the coffee industry often feel under-appreciated and undervalued. It’s high time we give credit where credit is due! From the coffee farms in Colombia to the bustling markets of Ethiopia, women play crucial roles in every stage of coffee production, yet their contributions are often overlooked. (It’s telling that a hashtag NKG is globally supporting this Women’s Day is #nowomennocoffee.)
Why is it so important to show them that they’re valued as green coffee producers? For starters, it’s about inclusion and equality.
When we acknowledge and honor the hard work of women in coffee production, we send a powerful message that their efforts are seen and valued. By giving them the recognition they deserve, we take a significant step toward creating a more inclusive and equitable industry. Additionally, showing women they are valued as coffee producers can inspire future generations of women to pursue careers in the coffee industry, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and opportunity.
No Women, No Coffee
Picture this: a day without your morning coffee. Can’t do it, right? Now imagine if the women behind that coffee decided to walk off the job. Chaos! Those beans that bring joy to millions each day come, in large part, from the labor and care of women. It’s only fair to show our gratitude and appreciation for their dedication and perseverance, especially when the systems in which they work (cultivating, harvesting, and processing) are historically rife with inequity.
Recently, I had the pleasure of embarking on a visit to Veracruz, Mexico, where I met some extraordinary women in the coffee industry. Amidst rolling green coffee fields, enveloped by the scent of freshly brewed coffee and elated by the sounds of laughter and good work, I met Edith Yolanda, Maria Xalamihua and Edith Gambino on the farms of Zongolica. These amazing women each carry a history as rich as the earth they tend.
Maria Xalamihua and her husband; Julio Cesar Castro (Veracruz Coffee Buyer, ECC), Edith Yolanda and Arifa Tahmina; Graciela Cuevas Panzzi; Edith Gambino.
Edith Yolanda and her husband are guardians of a 5-hectare coffee paradise. Together, they yield around 50 bags of coffee each year, all while tending to their feathery and furry friends on the farm.
Maria Xalamihua (whose smile is as bright as the morning sun) tends 2 hectares, working side by side with her husband. Together, they produce a modest 12 to 15 bags of coffee annually, but their spirits seem undaunted. Edith Gambino — a solo act of strength and grace — tends 2 hectares and a household of children while her husband is away. She juggles farm life and family with unwavering determination, all the while wondering if the world beyond her doorstep sees the value in her beans.
I also met with the incomparable Graciela Cuevas Panzzi on her farm Tierra de Reinas — or, “Land of the Queens” — in Huatusco. The name, of course, honors the women who make the coffee happen.
These remarkable individuals are the real-life wonder-women of the coffee world. As I walked their coffee fields, I witnessed their unwavering commitment to producing the finest coffee possible. With their hands, hearts and determination, they bring coffee to life. The same coffee the world can’t do without.
Gratitude and Respect
So, how can we show our appreciation for these remarkable women? Take a moment to learn about the women behind your favorite coffee beans. Share their stories, celebrate their achievements, and support brands and initiatives that prioritize the fair treatment and empowerment of women in the coffee industry. Every time you sip that delicious cup, remember the women whose hard work and dedication made it possible. In recognizing and respecting their work we offer them the validation and celebration they deserve.
But let’s not stop there. Let’s use Women’s History Month as a launchpad to promote gender equality and representation in the coffee industry and beyond! Encourage and support women in leadership positions, advocate for fair wages and working conditions, and champion initiatives that aim to close the gender gap in coffee production. Together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment that empowers women to thrive and succeed in the world of coffee — and beyond. •
Arifa Tahmina (pictured at top) is a coffee trader in the Houston office of InterAmerican Coffee.
