About This Coffee
The Federación De Sociedades Cooperativas Cafetaleras De La Sierra Madre Fc De Rl (FEDESI) was founded in 2015 out of 6 cooperatives in Mexico. These 6 cooperatives, Café de Altura Hoja Blanca, Unión de Comunidades Solidarias (UCOSOL), Las Abejas Mayas, Comunidades Cafetaleras de Siltepec (COCAFE), Unión de Cafetaleros de la Sierra Siltepec and PRODECAFE (Promoviendo el Desarrollo de las Comunidades Cafetaleras de la Sierra Madre) represent a total of 2,990+ producers who live and farm in Chiapas, Mexico. The federation aims to help farmers access new markets and secure better prices for their coffee. Their farms are small, about 2.5 hectares on average and sit at 1,200 to 1,700 meters above sea level. Members of FEDESI receive technical assistance and training in Good Agricultural Practices to enhance their productivity and improve coffee quality. Farmers can also access prefinancing for their coffee crops.
This lot was produced by a small group of women producers, associates of FEDESI.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
Since farms are small, most farm work is done by the family. Farmers selectively handpick ripe, red cherry and process it on their farms. They float their cherry to remove any underripes. Then, they pulp cherry and ferment it in cement tanks for 10 to 16 hours. Some producers have plastic vats as well. Following fermentation, they wash parchment in clean water and lay it to dry on cement patios. They rake parchment frequently to ensure even drying. Its takes approximately 5 to 10 days for parchment to dry.
Sustainable Harvest
Sustainable Harvest® is a specialty coffee trader focusing primarily on bringing coffees to market that are sourced from smallholder farmer cooperatives in the supply chain such as indigenous communities, women groups and the next generation of coffee farmers.
Their sourcing model is built on transparency, traceability and direct relationships between quality-minded coffee roasters and best-in-class coffee producers. Sustainable Harvest® has an on-site presence at origin with staff in Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Peru. Each office coordinates their supply including quality management, supplier relationships, source development, logistics, training and capacity building.
Coffee in Mexico
Mexico is one of the largest exporters of certified Organic and Fairtrade coffees. Smallholders with less than 10 hectares compose a full 70% of Mexico’s coffee producers. Since the 1990s, producers have largely been successful at forming cooperatives that sell certified coffees and help them gain market access to garner higher prices.