Building Community by Creating Opportunity Together
Luke Monroe
Last December two social enterprises dedicated to improving smallholder farmers’ access to markets were officially launched: Kishé Café y Té in Xela, and Kishé Foods, LLC in Los Angeles, California. FECCEG (Federación Comercializadora de Café Especial de Guatemala) a federation of 2,100 organic farmers in Guatemala, was the driving force behind both, and while they are each independently run and thousands of miles apart, they share a love for great coffee and a deep commitment to improving farmers’ incomes and rebuilding and strengthening communities.
Formed in 2006, FECCEG provides strategic support to its 13 smallholder farmer cooperatives. Since its inception, it has led crop diversification efforts, nearly doubled the income of its farmer-partners, and contributed to an increased sense of community and togetherness amongst its cooperatives. Through FECCEG, farmers are guaranteed fair prices, an anomaly in the coffee world, as many hardworking individuals are often paid well below market value for their crop. In addition, the Federation also promotes gender equality through its “Women’s Commission,” sustainability through its organic gardens, and small business development through micro-loans. However, FECCEG is not alone in its mission to support community betterment. Kishé Foods LLC and Kishé Café y Té have also directed themselves towards the same horizon. Located near Xela’s airfield, fairgrounds, and new Court building, Kishé Café y Té (the city’s only speciality coffee shop) was created to provide the best coffee experience in town, to encourage the consumption of quality local products, while at the same time, educating and inspiring the consumer. In the near future, it hopes to realize its vision of a vibrant community where folks both passionate about coffee, and making a difference, can gather and connect. Classes are now being offered in the “fine art of cupping” (or coffee tasting), and serve as the perfect way to experience the final link in the coffee production cycle, while developing an appreciation for coffee in all its diversity. Kishé has also established a relationships with the Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano in Xela and Highland Support Project to offer trips to our farming communities, with the first one slated for January 2015 during the coffee harvest. We encourage you to join these visits in the future. Meanwhile join this community by visiting the café!
The primary purpose of Kishé Foods, LLC is to develop an Alternative Distribution Model in which all involved will benefit from long-term relationships. This model is being piloted through its fundraising program, its partnerships with others to rebuild communities by creating sustainable local businesses including cafés, and its work with underserved U.S. communities, and their leaders.
The Creating Opportunity Together fundraising pilot project was recently launched in Xela, and is currently accepting testers. As the name suggests, the goal of this project is to benefit all involved by joining farmers with individual or organizational fundraisers (those traveling, working or living in Guatemala with ties to the United States) and the coffee lovers in their personal or professional networks. It’s a win-win for all: sales help for smallholder Guatemalan farmers, 20% of each sale supports the fundraiser in their own mission and pursuits, and it delivers the US buyer access to some of Guatemala’s finest grade and most sustainably grown coffee to their doorstep. Kishé believes that together we can create healthy, sustainable, and vibrant communities in Guatemala, and the world! Join us in Creating Opportunity Together!
Kishé Café y Té is located at 0 ave. 8-87 zona 7, Quetzaltenango, Quetzaltenango and is open from 7am-8pm daily. For more information, call +502 3005 6988, or write to kishecafeyte@fecceg.com.
To learn more, visit: www. CreatingOpportunityTogether.com and www.kishefoods.com.
