Processing

Washed

Altitude

1,200 - 1,700 masl.

Harvest

Dec - Mar

Region

La Paz District, Marcala

Variety

Catuaí, Bourbon, Typica, Caturra

Producer

Café Orgánico Marcala S.A. (COMSA)

Classification

SHG EP, Fairtrade & Organic Certified

Café Orgánico Marcala (COMSA) is located in Marcala, La Paz, in Western Honduras. This region is one of the poorest in the country. People are highly dependent on agriculture and coffee cultivation. COMSA was founded in 2000 by 69 community-minded farmers. At the time, farmers were suffering rock bottom coffee prices which made it unprofitable to harvest coffee. Most farmers in the area were forced to abandon their farms. Many of them migrated to cities or the USA in search of work.

Since then, COMSA's farmers have joined forces in order to access specialty markets and rebuild their livelihoods. They quickly learned that organic farming is more than a conversion process. So, they began developing an organic and sustainable culture, which balances the needs of business, society, and the environment. Membership has been steadily growing. About one-quarter of members are women. Many of the farmers also grow fruit and vegetables and keep cattle, pigs, poultry, and fish.

COMSA's organic production policy improves coffee quality by reviving depleted soil fertility and ending the use of harmful chemicals. COMSA pays good prices for the members? coffee. This has benefited the broader community because other traders were forced to offer higher prices to local farmers as well. The cooperative carries out all the processing: from pulping the ripe fruit to converting it to green coffee and storing it for export.