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cofemo
General info
State: Chiapas
Region: Los Altos de Chiapas
Producer Communities: Chalchihuitán, Mitontic, Santiago El Pinar, Tenejapa, San Juan Cancuc
Language: All the producers of this lot speak the Tzotzil indigenous language
Varieties: Typica, Mundo Novo, Bourbon, Garnica, Catimor
Elevation: 1,000 - 2,000 masl
Process: Washed
CONTEXT
The Mercedes Olivera Feminist Collective (COFEMO) is a feminist organisation with over three decades of activism. It is dedicated to closing gender gaps in the most marginalised and unequal municipalities of Chiapas.
In partnership with other organisations, COFEMO launched the project "Initiatives with Women’s Work," which gave birth to the specialty coffee cooperative ‘Sat Kajpel Antsetik,’ meaning “Coffee with a Woman’s Face” in the Tzotzil indigenous language. Parallel to this, two other projects focused on honey and textile production are being developed.
The cooperative consists of 58 indigenous women from various generations, ranging in age from 20 to 60 years old, who live in different communities in the Los Altos de Chiapas region.
Productive landscapes of Los Altos
The women grow coffee beneath the canopy of shade trees, fostering a more favourable growing environment while maintaining harmony with the surrounding ecosystem. Additionally, some implement the “milpa” system, where they plant crops like beans, corn, and squash, ensuring self-sufficiency for their families and communities.
What Challenges Are They Facing
The organisation faces several challenges in coffee production, especially environmental ones like unpredictable and adverse weather patterns that have disrupted the growing cycles.
The plantations are at risk from diseases such as coffee leaf rust, the coffee berry borer, and anthracnose. This year, the Mediterranean fruit fly has become an additional threat. Combined with the fact that many of the coffee plants are old and have not been renewed or pruned, these issues have led to low yields.
A key challenge is the limited participation of women in decision-making and access to land. Although they are not landowners, many have negotiated with men to manage the farms.
Ensambles Connects with COFEMO
In 2022, our team, along with the Bios Terra Institute (IBT) and NUUP, established partnerships with producers in Los Altos de Chiapas, including the feminist organisation “Coffee with a Woman’s Face.”
In the same year, we formed an alliance with NUUP, a non-profit organisation, to support the cooperative. Through this partnership, we became the anchor company connecting these women producers with national and international markets, offering fair prices and providing them with greater economic freedom and financial sovereignty.
NUUP has supported us with co-investment and technical assistance, as well as implementing the digital platform Sirio to empower women producers and improve their commercial management.
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