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APECAFORM

Fair Trade – Organic – Washed
San Marcos, Guatemala

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Fast Facts:
Location: San Marcos and Tajamulco Volcano
Altitude: 1000 – 1900 meters
Varietal: Arabica – Typica, Caturra, Bourbon
Certifications: Organic; FLO; SPP
Organization: Founded in 1992, legalized 1998, comprised of 400 members

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APECAFORM (the Maya-Mam Association of Smallholder Organic Coffee Farmers) was established in 1992, with aid from the Catholic diocese in Guatemala, as part of an initiative to support the development of local, small-scale coffee farmers. Today APECAFORM is comprised of some 400 members, spread over 17 communities. APECAFORM members are 100% small-scale farmers upholding their Mayan roots, including deep respect for the land and holistic and organic farming practices, and preserving traditional culture and language. The majority of their members speak Mam, one of more than 20 languages spoken in Guatemala.

In 1996, the umbrella organization Manos Campesinas was formed to handle the logistics of contracts and exporting for APECAFORM and other producer organizations in the areas of San Marcos, Quetzaltenango and Retalhuleu y Sololá, and, in 1997, was certified in the International Fairtrade Organization registry. APECAFORM was the first organization to export fair trade organic coffee under their new export organization, Manos Campesinas.

Today, with the strategic credit partnership between Root Capital, APECAFORM and fair trade importers such as Cooperative Coffees, producers continue to increase their sales of organic, fair trade coffee into international, specialty coffee markets.

Thread is excited to feature this coffee for the month of September, roasted lightly to highlight notes of milk chocolate, vanilla, caramel and spice.

Photos courtesy of our importing cooperative, Coop Coffees.

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