Guatemala - Huehuetenango - Woman Produced Cooperative (CODECH)

Every harvest season we try to source the best product available out of each country. For the past 5 years, we have found some of the most amazing coffees coming out of the Huehuetenango region in Guatemala. This year is no exception as this new farm has produced a stunning offering. It is very close in flavor profile from the prior Guatemala offering we carried.

Summary

Farm: 10 small women-producer farms from the CODECH cooperative
Region(s): Huehuetenango, Guatemala
Process: Fully Washed 
Altitude: 1600-2200 Meters 
Roast Level:Medium/Dark
Farm Size:Between 2-10 acres per farm

Details

The Women Producer coffee from CODECH is a special program, and has been one of the catalysts for the expanded Women Producers collaborations. Coffees in this lot are 100% from women-owned or managed farms. The women growers are paid a premium to have their lots separated out for this specific offering, and the premiums are used in part by the women of CODECH to support health-initiative programs in the community. Half of the premium is collected for a women's health workshop in the municipality of Concepcion Huista, which has a high infant mortality rate. 

CODECH (Coordinator of Organizations for the Development of Concepcion Huista) is a second-tier organization located in the municipality of Concepcion Huista in the department of Huehuetenango in Guatemala. It comprises 10 different member organizations and has 476 members. CODECH was founded in 1998, as representatives of the member organizations were in search of alternative development programs for the community in Concepcion Huista. One of CODECH’s main objectives is the participation of women in society. Gregorio, the general manager of CODECH, is also pushing for farmers to renovate their farms. He believes they could be producing about three times their current volume on average.

The organization's organic certification is not only indicative of its commitment to being environmentally friendly, but also to be independent from transnationals which produce fertilizers. They want independence from the price of oil (used in fertilizers). Gregorio also believes that there is a growing market for organic products and wants to meet that demand. The group now has access to education for building the business better through organic farming workshops, General agriculture workshops, national and international commercialization workshops, teacher development workshops, women's specific workshops.