Mexico, Chiapas – Washed

Made up of around 1300 indigenous members from four different regions (Center, Frailesca, Sierra and Los Altos), the Cooperative Union of San Fernando was established in 1988. Most of the coffee is grown at an altitude between 1200 – 1600 masl. This group is managed as an “ejido”, and functions a bit differently than a typical cooperative. An ejido is a piece of land farmed communally under a system supported by the state. What’s cool about this set up is that the group collectively makes decisions on how to farm their land, which varietals to plant and at which elevations, etc. Women producers account for nearly 40% of total membership which is slightly lower than some other producing nations.