Ethically Sourced Coffee Generates Opportunities for Guatemalan Coffee Farmers

At De La Gente, we promote ethically sourced coffee by practicing a relationship-based trade model that is driven by forging authentic connections and relationships between coffee farmers and green coffee customers, who, too, are committed to justly compensating small-scale coffee producers.

Our community of green coffee buyers spans from Portland, Oregon to Cincinnati, Ohio and North into Quebec and Toronto and all the way across the Atlantic to The Netherlands, all of which prioritize roasting and serving ethically sourced coffee.

How Relationship-Based Trade Generates Opportunity for Guatemalan Coffee Farmers

While the international market often under-values the individuals growing and processing coffee, De La Gente, along with our green coffee community, chooses to rise above the industry. In doing so, together, we make ethically sourced coffee about relationships rather than diminishing either the customer or the farmer to mere numbers.

Last year, we negotiated contracts between our eight partner cooperatives and wholesale green coffee customers, all of which paid well above market standards and we have a track record of doing this year after year.

Because of the relationships that we have fostered between green coffee customers and the communities from which they’re purchasing, these negotiations are much richer than agreeing on a number. Rather, they become conversations about fairness, dignity, and prosperity for Guatemalan coffee-growing families and communities. The De La Gente green coffee community has greatly impacted and empowered Guatemalan coffee farmers.

De La Gente’s Impact

From left to right, Benito and Rigoberto

Rigoberto, a longtime leader and coffee expert at Santa Anita Cooperative says, “Having a partnership with De La Gente brings growth and entirely new realms of opportunities to meet our needs and overcome obstacles that hinder us from reaching our goals. With De La Gente, we have discovered avenues [and opportunities] like market access to infrastructure to agriculture…[and] we’ve obtained the tools and built the infrastructure that we need.”

Brenda

An example of the generational impact of coffee growing in Guatemala can be exemplified through Brenda, who has been a member of Ijat’z Cooperative for 12 years and now serves on their Board of Directors. “I have raised my children through coffee,” says Brenda, emphasizing that she did this as a single mother of three daughters. “For example, I have a daughter who is studying in the university, and she is about to graduate with a degree in early childhood education! My goal was always to provide for my children.”

Here Is What the DLG Green Coffee Community Has to Say About Us:

“I wholeheartedly embrace and appreciate DLG’s mission and their dedication to coffee growers and their betterment. [It] is equally as unique that they have such incredibly passionate young people who come from coffee backgrounds. You lose that kind of connection when working with larger importers, and building connections is something that is important for me and what I want Cafe Cultura to be.”

—Katherine Gonzalez | Café Cultura

“For me, it's important to meet the producers in order to make the industry one that values people. That's why I decided to travel to Guatemala to personally meet with various producers, interact with them, and understand their work and professionalism... In Canada, we drink coffee but we know very little about the work that goes into a cup of coffee. I want to be that link [between producers and consumers.”

— Daniel Bernard | Les Cafés du Paysan

We celebrate these opportunities for individuals and cooperatives alike, and look to the horizon with even bigger ideas of expanding our impact. We extend our gratitude to each of our green coffee buyers for choosing to purchase ethically sourced coffee directly from small-scale Guatemalan producers.