Lagos de Colores

Cooperative Lagos de Colores

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It is a cooperative that was founded on August 27, 1996; wish is located in the Lagos de Montebello region, Chiapas. With a number of 150 producers from the Maya-Chuj community, this is dedicated to the cultivation and care of organic coffee plantations. One of the varieties grown in the region is Oro Azteca and Geisha.

The production uses an ancient Mayan care method that is based on living with Mother Nature. Every year before the start of the harvest they are evaluated by Certimex, a government agency that certifies that the marine crop is 100% organic. The harvest season begins in October and November; the coffee harvest begins at the beginning of the year, lasting approximately three months of harvesting.

The process used by coffee growers in the region is as follows; Pulp, ferment and wash, when they have already done these processes, they take the coffee beans to the drying patio, with must reach 12% humidity to store them in bags.

One of the primary needs they have in the cooperative is to train affected members of the community so that they continue to care for the coffee harvest and the environment in an ancestral way, without chemicals and without other products that alter natural production, it is a highly sacrificed work, they supervise internally that their members follow their rules internal, if not, they will be sanctioned, because they have the conservation of these traditional processes as they have inherited if for generations.

Miembros de la Cooperativa

Cooperative Tzeltal Tzotzil

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The cooperative was established on August 19, 1986, with 19 producers, currently is has about 300 members, and they are located in 25 communities belonging to 6 municipalities in the region of Altos de Chiapas.  This region is characterized by concentrating the largest population of native indigenous peoples who speak the Tzeltal and Tzotzil languages.

The main objective of the cooperative is the commercialization of coffee, honey and artisan products locally and internationally under fair conditions, as the primary basis is the preservation of the ecosystem, promoting organic agriculture and improving local infrastructure. The organization also strives to involve and promote woman more in activities so there is currently an independent group of women who support each other.

One of the municipalities where coffee is planted is Pantelhó, which is crossed by three rivers and four streams of permanent flow; the Chacté river divides the municipality between the Tzeltal and Tzotzil ethnic groups. The demarcation has an average annual temperature of 15 degrees Celsius at 1,300 masl.

The variety of coffee produced in the area is red Garnica, yellow Garnica, Typica and Bourbon.

Currently, the sale of coffee has become one of the main activities for cooperatives made up of small Mexican producers of Tzeltal and Tzotzil origin. Hence, the importance of highlighting the work of fair trade and the care of coffee plantations in a natural way, to be able to commercialize organic coffee beans.