MEXICO FT-USA ORGANIC ALMA DE CHIAPAS SHG EP

Here is an opportunity to support an organization of producers in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, which includes the El Triunfo biosphere reserve.  Café Alma de Chiapas is an association that was formed in 2011 and has grown to over 750 members in 2024. The vast majority of producers have indigenous roots and continue to speak a native language.  Nearly one third of these growers are women who depend on income from coffee to support their families.

Processing Details:

They cultivate coffee on farms that average just a few acres in size, small enough for each producer to process their own coffee with their own micro-mill.  During the harvest, each producer practices selective picking with focus on picking only fully ripened cherries, which are then processed with the farms micro-mill. At the mill, the cherries are washed and floated to remove damaged and less dense coffee.  The selected cherries are then depulped, fermented, washed and gently dried and stored until it is time to prepare the coffee for export.

Cooperative details:

Alma de Chiapas  provides crucial support to small producers. In particular, Alma de Chiapas has helped producers gain access to credit and certifications. Investments for basic infrastructure needs, like road improvements, establishing local warehouses, and operating a dry-mill facility are all coordinated through Alma de Chiapas, which ensures traceability and quality control throughout the post harvest process.  Their collective efforts have established higher prices and more producer income to support best agricultural practices and improved livelihoods.