Join us for another year of cultivating opportunity

Since our founding, De La Gente has existed to make coffee a sustainable livelihood for small-scale farmers, a historically excluded and exploited labor force in Guatemala and the international coffee industry. By disrupting this cycle of marginalization through capacity-building, providing market access, and prioritizing relationship-based trade, we can proudly say that eight years after our inception, the communities we partner with do so much more than just cultivate and harvest ripened cherries. They’ve become coffee producers who have acquired immense knowledge about the intricacies of both farming and production. Whether that process takes place in their home or at a communal wet mill, these skilled professionals oversee the entire process from seed to sack—the moment it’s ready for export to be roasted and enjoyed among our conscientious coffee community. 

We say conscientious because we collectively recognize that coffee is much more than a product. Behind every cup, there is a livelihood, an entrepreneurial spirit, and an unapologetic perseverance that we believe deserves to be nurtured. That’s exactly why we say we are “cultivating opportunity with every bean.” As a testament to those words, in 2022 we facilitated a women’s entrepreneurship training, extended microloans to five second-generation producers, commercialized more than 125,000 pounds of green coffee from nearly 150 producers, welcomed more than 1,000 tourists which generated over $30,000 for coffee-growing communities, and relaunched microfinance opportunities for producers to continue in their professional development.

This impact was made possible by your shared belief in our mission and approach to create a more just and inclusive coffee industry. In speaking with Rigoberto, a member of Santa Anita Cooperative, he said:

We invite you to join us for another year of empowering coffee producers among our eight partner cooperatives. Whether your allyship comes in the form of a financial contribution to be used where needed most, being a spokesperson for our mission, or indulging in the De La Gente taste, the opportunities we cultivate are propelled by your support.