In 1992, with help from organizers affiliated with the Catholic church, 359 coffee producers came together to form the Comunidades Indigenas de la Region de Simojovel de Allende, S.S.S. (CIRSA) association. Within a few years, CIRSA had earned Organic and Fairtrade certification. More recently, it was able to purchase land read more
Producer organization Café Prevenir was founded in 2002, with the goal of marketing specialty coffee at the local level. It has 44 producer members who organically farm 208 hectares in Motozintla and Siltepec, in the highlands of Chiapas, near the southern border of Mexico and Guatemala. Coffees are wet processed read more
Siltepec is located in the central part of Chiapas. This coffee comes from a high-altitude area of the Sierra Madre, bordering the Biosphere Reserve El Trifuno, which is the habitat of an endemic bird, El Quetzal. This ecological region represents 30 percent of the flora in all the Chiapas territory. read more
Finca Palmichal is high on the western side of the Central Andes mountain range, near the municipality of Genova, in the department of Quindío. This region went through violent and difficult times during the peak of the guerrilla expansion in the country. But now, after the negotiation between the government read more
In 1999, a group of farmers in the municipality of Motozintla de Mendoza, in Chiapas, Mexico, began working together, and in 2000 they officially formed the Movimiento Campesiono de Delisario SPR de R.L. cooperative — or more simply, MOCABE. They founded MOCABE as a Social Solidarity Society (SSS), a legal read more
In Costa Rica's Central Valley, Hacienda Sonora sits at the foot of the celebrated (and active) Poás Volcano. On this 100-hectare farm, 65 hectares are dedicated to shade coffee, 10 hectares to sugarcane and 25 hectares are wild forest reserve. Alberto Guardia began growing coffee at Hacienda Sonora 45 years read more
Oaxaca, Mexico, is known for its diverse and varied microclimates, which are largely influenced by its mountainous terrain, varying altitudes and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The state of Oaxaca can be roughly divided into several distinct microclimates, each characterized by unique weather and precipitation patterns. These diverse microclimates make read more
Oaxaca, Mexico, is known for its diverse and varied microclimates, which are largely influenced by its mountainous terrain, varying altitudes and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The state of Oaxaca can be roughly divided into several distinct microclimates, each characterized by unique weather and precipitation patterns. These diverse microclimates make read more
The Maya Ixil cooperative — in the mountains of the tropical Ixcan region, in the department of El Quiché and the tiny town of Santa Avelina — is helping farmers to improve their communities and livelihoods. Maya Ixil evolved in response to sinking coffee prices and a need to increase read more
Nguvu is a blend of coffees from smallholder cooperatives in the Murang'a district, in Kenya's Central Province. Our Nguvu comes from Ruthaka Kamuchuni, Ruthaka Mukui, Mwirua Riakiania, Mwirua Kiambwe (the first part of the name is the cooperative and the second part is the factory, or mill). Murang'a is considered read more
