In the past, it was inconceivable and unlikely for a woman to take control of a coffee farm or perform roles other than food preparation, grain harvesting, or cleaning.
Fortunately, today different scenarios are emerging, in which women are going through a stage of revelation and empowerment, where they struggle to break the barriers that marginalize them from the coffee business in the specialty industry.
Our closest examples are Las Mazatecas (Oaxaca) and Las Guerreras (Guerrero), two projects with a gender focus and impact on origins.
Keep reading to discover more about these incredible women.
Las Mazatecas, sovereigns of the Sierra
In the landscapes of the Sierra de Flores Magón region (formerly known as La Cañada), there is a group of small-scale women coffee producers whom we baptize as Las Mazatecas; in homage to the Mazatec indigenous people, who inhabit the north of the state of Oaxaca.
In this project, there are about 60 indigenous women who talk in the Mazatec language, and they come from different generations, ranging in age from 28 to 65 years old. Generally, Las Mazatecas share work with their husbands. While they dedicate themselves to activities such as wet processing, fermentation, washing, and drying, men perform field tasks such as harvesting and agronomic practices.
The production capacity of each Mazateca varies. We have peasant women who provide us with anywhere from 6 kilos to 433 kilos, of varieties such as Typica, Mundo Novo, Bourbon, and Caturra.
In addition to coffee, some of these women also producer other foods such as chayote, banana, beans, avocado, squash, etc, a good way of diversifying their income. This is achieved through production systems such as traditional polycultures, where coffee shares space with other crops. There are even Mazatecas who bake bread as an additional source of income.
Although Las Mazatecas protect and cultivate the land (often less than a hectare), it doesn´t mean that they are the owners of the small plots. Most of the time, men are the landowners. This prevents them from accessing financial credits and deciding how to use resources to meet their needs and those of their family. However, some producers allow their wives and daughters to use their names to give an identity to the coffees.
Likewise, many of the sons and daughters of Las Mazatecas have migrated to cities in search of better opportunities. Faced with this situation, Ensambles Cafés Mexicanos has woven and supported a solid group of women that has grown over time. Through coffee production and marketing, Ensambles wish for the women of the region to achieve financial independence, empower themselves and become more visible in the industry.
Las Guerreras of the Montaña Alta
If you search for Guerrero on Google, you'll probably come across negative news, where women continue to be victims of machismo, feminicides, misogyny, abuse, and gender discrimination.
We sought to change this narrative. That's how, two years ago, we began promoting greater participation of women from Guerrero in the commercialization and connection to specialty coffee. This led to the birth of Las Guerreras, a collective of Me'phaa indigenous women of different generations. What started with 13 brave women in 2021, grew by 54% in a year, with the incorporation of 7 more producers.
Las Guerreras are more than just a group of women. They are a symbol of resistance against a patriarchal and oppressive system that, unfortunately, still persists in many communities and is usually exercised by their husbands and male family members. They have challenged gender expectations and traditional roles, taking leadership in the commercialization of natural and exceptional coffees.
Their dedication and passion for coffee have translated into resounding success. They have won over both national and international buyers, showcasing the quality of their work and the richness of their culture. Furthermore, their interest and curiosity in the specialty coffee world have driven a notable evolution in the quality of their products.
