The Association of Specialty Coffee Producers of Huehuetenango (ASOPCE) was founded in 2015 with the goal of unifying producers from Huehuetenango and San Marcos (specifically, Sipacapa and San Miguel Ixtahuacán) who produce quality, organic coffee and of placing these coffees in international markets at fair prices that benefit producers.
In its first year, the association included 229 producers who passed organic certification audits. Membership has since grown to approximately 450 producers, the majority farming an average of 1.5 hectares each.
ASOPCE coffees are grown across key coffee-producing zones of Huehuetenango, where high elevations, diverse soils and careful agronomic practices result in strictly hard-bean coffees with well-defined acidity. Coffee is cultivated between 1,500 and 2,050 meters above sea level and managed primarily under organic systems.
Producers carry out artisanal wet processing and drying individually, following established quality standards. Coffees are exported as European-prepared green coffee after a minimum four-week resting period.
In addition to technical assistance, ASOPCE provides commercialization and credit support to its members and actively promotes women-produced coffees. Women represent approximately 30% of the association’s membership and manage or own their own production units.
New members benefit from improved crop performance through technical assistance, as well as access to fair pricing for their coffee.
