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Welcome to

veracruz

location

veracruz

México

Océano
Pacífico

Golfo de México

Guatemala

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Our presence in Veracruz

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Hectares

Coffee producers

56

45

Average farm size per producer (Ha)

Men

Women

1.2 ha

33

12

Communities

24

Coffee production in Veracruz 

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2

Production in Veracruz during the 2019-2020 harvest was 956K bags (60kg)

Veracruz contributes to 24% of the national production

place

1,1

Average farm size

hectares

Varietals

Typica, Oro Azteca, Sarchimor, Gesha and Anacafé 14

90%

of the coffee is washed *estimated*

500-2,000

ms.n.m

Source: Café de México: estados y sus regiones / Revista Fitotec México / Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural.

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Production systems in Veracruz

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5

40

30

20

10

1.0%

Forest system

31.5%

Traditional polyculture

12.2%

Commercial polyculture

54.3%

Shade-grown monoculture

1%

Full-sun monoculture

100% of the farms we buy coffee from are traditional polyculture systems
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Indigenous languages in Veracruz 

8,062,579 total speakers

359,173

population

125,895

population

56,164

population

33,787

population

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Populoca de Sierra

19,482

population

18,740

population

Otomí

Zapoteco

Huasteco

Náhuatl

Totonaco

The coffee producers we work with are primarily native speakers of Nahuatl.

Culture and tradition

1

The regions of Huasteca, Zongolica, and Chicontepec stand out as the heart of cultural heritage. These regions are the epitome of distinguished traditions, including Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) and La Candelaria. Moreover, they are known for their exceptional craftsmanship and textile art.

2

The Xochitlalis (Xochitl: flower, Tlali: root), which means "flowers for the earth" in the indigenous Nahuatl language, is a ritual performed by farmers in Zongolica to express gratitude to the earth and seek abundant harvests and a sufficient water supply. The ceremony is celebrated with food, drinks, and music.

3

The xochicoscatl and xochitlamanali, which translate to "flower necklace" or "flower bouquet" in the Nahuatl language, correspond to a ritual conducted in the Sierra de Zongolica to welcome guests during social events or religious festivities. It involves placing a crown and a flower necklace on the honored guests.

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Agriculture and economy 

Veracruz is the second biggest food supplier in Mexico with tan annual production of 31 tons of food. The most widely produced crops are coffee, sugarcane, maize, orange, lemon and pineapple.

Veracruz is widely recognised for its significant contribution to the agriculture, livestock, fishing, and beekeeping sectors. Beekeeping, in particular, plays a vital role, engaging approximately 400,000 families, especially in regions such as Huasteca Baja, Totonacapan, Altas Montañas, and the Sotavento.

Challenges in Veracruz

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Veracruz is the fifth state in Mexico with the highest poverty rate, with 62% of its population living in poverty (16% in extreme poverty and 44.8% in moderate poverty)

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With approximately 8.49% of their population being illiterate, Veracruz is one of the states in Mexico with highest level of educational deprivation.

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Almost 30% of the population in Veracruz lacks access to public healthcare or free medications, an extremely concerning situation.

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In coffee-producing areas, coffee farmers are offered low prices for the sale of their agricultural products.

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The lack of access to market and financing for coffee farmers leads to poor farm management which negatively impacts the yields. The absence of coffee tree renovation means most plantations are old and very vulnerable to pests, diseases, and climate change, further impacting the yields.

Ensambles regenerating

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We provided technical training, purchased coffee, and connected around 45 producers from Veracruz to national and international markets.

   - 12 women 

   - 33 men

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We worked with 56 hectares of coffee-growing land owned by small producers and supported about 24 indigenous communities.

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We set up a storage facility, and in our central tasting lab in Coatepec, Veracruz, we evaluated over 380 coffee samples from the region.

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We helped improve the family income of our partner producers by paying 65% above local prices.

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In partnership with Kaffeemacher and the IBT, we launched the Tlapajti project (which means “to heal” in Nahuatl) in the Zongolica Mountains to help producers obtain their organic certification. We also helped more than 15 producers to organise themselves into Rural Production Societies, strengthening their legal structure.

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27% of our network consists of indigenous women producers, who are starting to play a more active role in coffee farming in this region.

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We promoted coffee production under agroforestry and biodiversity-friendly systems that offer environmental services, protect ecosystems, and help fight climate change.

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In collaboration with NUUP, we are training and implementing the Sirio platform to georeference coffee plots and prepare for the European Union’s anti-deforestation regulation. At the same time, we’re helping producers from the Zongolica area to obtain their organic certification.

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