Supporting Colombia’s Fondo Paez: A Story Of Hope And Change

You may have noticed an increase in the price of our Colombian Medium coffee in our web store. We want to explain why this is and how it directly relates to what our farmer partners are experiencing on the ground in their communities.

Fondo Paez Coffee Cooperative

Fondo Paez is a very special coffee cooperative in Colombia made up of the indigenous Paez people of the Cauca region. Their communities have a strong history of coffee growing and their cooperative is a true representation of their culture and traditions. Unfortunately, the cost of production has been on the rise in recent years due to a combination of high local prices and the effects of climate change and Fondo Paez has struggled to maintain their footing.

Reasons for the price increase include the costs of labor, fuel, and other inputs used in coffee production. Additionally, local buyers often stress the cooperatives of the region by offering farmers higher prices and trying to persuade them to sell their produce outside of the co-op. Climate change has also played a big role in making coffee production more difficult, with unpredictable weather patterns affecting the coffee growing season and reducing yields. As these factors have ramped up the cooperative have fought to maintain their volume available to buyers like us and it has forced them to raise prices in order to hang on to their coffee.

Cafe Campesino has been partners with Fondo Paez for nearly two decades, and we feel a responsibility to support our friends at the cooperative during these tough times. By paying a fair price for their coffee, we can help make sure that the Paez community can keep producing high-quality coffee and provide for the people of their communities. Our partnership with Fondo Paez allows us to bring you amazing Colombian coffee while supporting sustainable and equitable coffee production. And even though we’re facing challenges, we’re committed to supporting Fondo Paez and making sure they have what they need to keep making the coffee we all love while preserving their unique culture and traditions.