Manos Campesinas was formed to work with dynamic primary level co-ops like our partners APECAFORM as well as other producer organizations in the areas of San Marcos, Quetzaltenango and Retalhuleu y Sololá. In 1997 Manos 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, Manos producers continue to increase their sales of organic, fair trade coffee into international, specialty coffee markets.
Other achievements include: the purchase of land and construction of a central warehouse in Malacatan; the creation of a community fund to help finance their system of organic technicians and coordinators; and the development of on-site demonstration and experimental plots – where farmers see and learn about best production practices and test new varietals in their own geographical and climatic context before launching into renovation plans promoted from a distant laboratory.
Future projects include Manos Campesinas include: the construction of a centralized wet processing plant in order to gain more control over the handling of the coffee and to maintain highest quality; and the development of a roasted coffee operation and a café in Quetzaltenango for direct sale to local population and the bustling tourist market, as a way of diversifying the income opportunities for their members.
