GUATEMALA FT-FLO ORGANIC SAN MARCOS SHB EP

Good supply chains deliver tasty coffee. This is certainly the case with this regional blend from the community of Corral Grande in the department of San Marcos, which just arrived courtesy of the Federación Comercializadora de Café Especial de Guatemala (FECCEG), an umbrella organization that helps producers with small farms gain access to the international market. This particular lot comes from several producers who are members of the Cooperativa Integral de Ahorro y Crédito Café Responsabilidad Limitada (COPECAFE). COPECAFE has focused attention on training producers on the best organic practices to manage their farms and diversification projects. Producers have put the training in action, making their own organic fertilizer and diversifying their farms with citrus and banana trees. Each producer has their own micro-mill to process harvested cherries. First they float the cherry in water to remove less dense and damaged beans. Then they depulp, ferment, wash and dry the coffee to 11 percent moisture. At this stage, FECCEG steps in to support producers with transportation, warehousing and cupping analysis, and later provides the preparation for export. FECCEG has worked hard to ensure coffee traceability so that producers receive more income for improved quality. Increased earnings from coffee sales help strengthen a producer family’s livelihood.