About this Coffee
In Mexico, typically, farmers are parts of large, umbrella co-op associations that bulk hundreds of farmers’ coffee together to build massive community lots. In 2013, the Grupo Yosotatu producer association broke away from one such co-op to form a group of 120 farmers that placed specific emphasis on quality in order to raise premiums for their coffees.
Each smallholder farm has their coffee processed and tested for moisture content, water activity, and cup quality separately before that coffee is added to a community lot or set aside to highlight a single producer lot. With quality higher than ever this year, Ruby committed to twice as much coffee as a way to help growth with the project.
This project has taken years of organizing. Adam McClellan, of Red Fox Coffee Merchants, is the main contact for this group and had this to say:
“Red Fox has had a presence and relationships in the general growing region for over 8 years. The leader of a small organizing group in the San Pedro Yosotatu community contacted Red Fox five years ago in order to negotiate pricing, improve quality, and sell their coffee directly, so we made a visit specifically to meet with the group in person and have been visiting a minimum of three times per year since.”
This lot from the San Pedro Yosotatu village represents tons of hard work from seven small farms replanting heirloom Typica and Bourbon trees after a rough bout with coffee leaf rust. All of the farmers follow full organic growing practices, usually with worm composting facilities on site at each farm. We’re thrilled to be able to feature this coffee, and are excited our import partners at Red Fox were able to partner with this group to highlight amazing coffee work from such a beautiful, rural region.