Honduras Las Capucas comes to us from COCAFCAL (Cooperativa Capucas Limitada). Producers of this coffee live in western Honduras, in the Copán region along the Guatemalan border. Notably, the region lies in the buffer zone of the Celaque National Park. This nature reserve is home to lush cloud forest as well as the country’s highest mountain.
COCAFCAL was founded in 1999. Presently it represents an estimated 12 coffee farming communities from the municipalities of San Pedro and Corquin, in Copan. The main objectives of the cooperative are to reduce poverty and increase the quality of daily life for their community. As a collective, members work together to promote the sustainable development of their local economy with coffee funds. In practice, members and their families receive financial, technical, productive, and marketing services. To date, their development programs have benefited approximately 5,000 people in Las Capucas and surrounding regions.
One example of how COCAFCAL has invested premiums back into the community is the environmental campaign they launched. The cooperative paid for the construction and installation of twenty garbage dumpsters close to local schools, churches, health clinics and grocery stores. The dumpsters were painted with environmental messages to reduce litter. Additionally, the cooperative coordinated presentations to educate school children on community space stewardship, and how to properly handle garbage. This included an environmental film festival hosted by the “Lorax” whose skit illustrated environmental conservation principles to the audience.
The cooperative’s General Assembly, which manages the democratic use of the Fairtrade premium, is comprised of 10 members, nine of whom are women. Members are dedicated to growing sustainable coffees, and Honduras Las Capucas can offer the following certifications (or a combination of certifications): Fairtrade, Organic, Rainforest Alliance.
Cupping Notes
Clean, sweet, chocolate notes, soft nutty notes; mild acidity, full body.
