COLOMBIA ORGANIC CAUCA ACEC EP – 32538-1 – 69.8 kg Bags – SPOT SEAFORTH

Coffee Background

Sourcing details

In Colombia the vast majority of coffee is cultivated, harvested and processed on small family owned farms.  While these producers are their own architects, designing farm management and post-harvest solutions to fit their needs, they also need strong alliances to bring their coffee to the international market and earn fair prices.  To support this system of small farm production, Colombia established the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC) to organize and support a complex network of larger regional coffee cooperatives.  These cooperatives provide producers with valuable logistical support like centralized warehouses to store dried parchment and dry mills where the coffee is prepared for export according to size.  This particular lot was sourced by the FNCs exporter called ExpoCafe and the Asociación de Caficultores Orgánicos del Cauca (ACEC).  ACEC has been organizing producers with small family owned farms for more than 2 decades to use organic practices to cultivate coffee.  

Processing details

Farms are small enough for each of the 258 members to manage their own micro-mills where meticulous care in cherry selection, depulping, fermenting, and drying coffee takes place.  ACEC provides crucial logistical support for things like local warehouses and managing certification requirements for the group of producers.  

Exporting details

ACEC also keeps strong ties with the FNC and works directly with ExpoCafe to gain better access to technical support for best agricultural practices and international markets for exporting coffee. In addition to marketing coffee internationally, the FNC provides producers with financing, training, and technical assistance to improve coffee quality. The FNC also strives to improve the quality of life for coffee producers and their families through projects promoting income diversification and education.