Pipe Dreams - Fair Trade
A steep road ascends the side of El Tapón Mountain in Guatemala’s remote Huehuetenango Department, rising finally to the mid-sized town of San Pedro Necta. San Pedro Necta municipality, which lies across the verdant hills surrounding the town centre, is characterized by small homesteads, and coffee is the primary means of income for most people living here. The town lies at the heart of the community, and the growers contributing to this community lot live mostly in its vicinity
On this side of the mountain, away from the larger estates to the West, agriculture is mostly certified organic as the surrounding community has chosen sustainable production practices as one of the ways to differentiate themselves and to remain competitive in this famous coffee-producing region. These aims are supported by the local organization, the Association of Integrated Development of San Pedro Necta (ASODESI) which serves around 140 members from the surrounding area ASODESI provides a variety of services to its members and the wider community, from health services and education through to access to agricultural inputs. The majority of its members are Indigenous Mam-Maya, a historically marginalized group in Guatemala. ASODESI represents their members’ interests and makes sure to act as a mouthpiece for them in the global marketplace.
In recent years, sustainable production practices have become increasingly difficult to pursue, as many of the members of ASODESI are adapting to the changing climate cycles of the region, in which the intense rainy season is increasingly highly variable. When the rain comes too late, it can create a delay in the maturation process of cherries that have already withstood a long period of stress during the hot summer typical of the area. For this reason protecting shade and soil biodiversity has become critical. Additionally, the association has provided training in seedling preparation, including the application of organic fertilisers such as mulch, compost and manure. These fertilizers help create a foundation for healthy, productive and long-term organic agriculture.
Caturra, Bourbon, and Paché varietals. Light roasted, medium bodied, ripe tropical fruits, milk chocolate. Very versatile, this coffee can be used for drip, pourover, cold brew, or single origin espresso.