Meet our partners behind Swelter coffee
Costa Rica
Seilyn Jimenez
Seilyn Jimenez is the force behind Abuelos Cafe, a small farm in the region of San Carlos, Costa Rica. She has been working with Bean Voyage, a non-profit organization we support, that helps women producers gain access to new markets and refine production to improve quality.
Photo courtesy of Abuelos Cafe
Costa Rica
Mayra Solis
Mayra Solis is a coffee producer in San Carlos, Costa Rica. She has been producing coffee for many years, and is now teaching the legacy to her daughters, who are active in participating in the family business. The family has been working with Bean Voyage, a non-profit organization we support, that helps women producers gain access to new markets and refine production to improve quality.
Photo courtesy of Alto el Vapor
DEMOCRATIC REpublic of Congo
Mapendo Woman's group
This coffee is from the Mapendo women's group working with Mighty Peace Coffee. Charlotte is one of the farmers in this group. Mighty Peace is proud to represent the highest quality of coffee from the Democratic Republic of Congro, sourced from cooperatives using ethical and sustainable practices. They are also passionate about promoting peace as Congo has experienced much conflict in history. The tradition of harvesting coffee there is longstanding, and they hope to spread the word.
Photo courtesy of Mighty Peace Coffee
Ethiopia
Atnago Women's Coop
This coffee is produced by the Atnago Women's Group, founded in 2014. The women of this coop have been cultivating coffee for over 30 years. The coop was organized by Fahem General Trading, a local coffee exporter in the legendary Jimma Zone, exclusively selling Atnago’s coffee. Fahem provides vital support to the local women producers by coordinating agronomists to offer technical farming skills, and raising awareness on issues such as child labor, forced labor, discrimination, and harassment. The group also ensures women's representation in key committees, including Assess and Address, Gender, and Grievance Committees.
Guatemala
Doña Lilly
In the highlands of the Mataquescuintla in Guatemala, Doña Lilly and her family run Finca Santa Marta, an agro-ecological coffee farm. A childhood dream, her husband wanted to return to Guatemala to start a coffee farm, so Lilly and the family went all on. They not only run the farm, but they also export and import to the US themselves. Their kids, are also involved in the farm, growing their love for coffee, while many coffee farming kids are not taking on the family business.
In addition to running a coffee farm, they also started a non-profit in Guatemala to help local kids gain access to dental care. Learn more here!
India
Poornima Jairaj
"Varshini" means Rain Goddess in India, and honors the intrinsic and nurturing role women and water have in the coffee journey. This coffee comes from a farm thats been producing for over 100 years, and is currently run by Poornima Jairaj.
The last three years have proven to be challenging due to climate change, pushing Poornima to invest more sustainable agricultural practices to help plan for an uncertain future, as this farm contributes to the livelihood of 30 local families.
Photo credit: Alina Spear, Portland Maine
mexico
Rosalba & the Bella Vista Women's Co-op
Bella Vista is a women’s co-op of 168 family-owned farms in Chiapas, Mexico. Rosalba Cifuentes Tovia is the woman behind the efforts, ensuring the group receives higher prices for their coffee, and guaranteeing traceability by importing directly to the Bay Area. Check out an interview with Rosalba, and visit the women’s co-op website: Mayan Harvest Coffee.
Photo courtesy of Mayan Harvest
Rwanda
Women's group of Kopakama Coop
The women of the larger Kopakama Cooperative have band together to advance their coffee quality and bring their community a brighter tomorrow. "Ejo Heza" means "bright tomorrow", and since cultivating their own land starting in 2011 they have excelled in producing quality coffees, earning themselves a premium price by selling directly to buyers.
Photo courtesy of Artisan Coffee Imports
