Before we head into the new year we want to take a moment and reflect on how much we have grown in the last year. There were lots of hills to climb and work to be done but more importantly it was full of hope for a prosperous future for Pachamama as we continue to lay the foundations for even bigger impacts for our farmer-owners.
We have a lot to be grateful for and we could not have done it without all you. Whether you get your coffee delivered to your door, swing by our cafes or shop at your local coop and grocery store, if you are a new customer or you’ve been with us from the beginning, you are the reason we can continue to do this important work. We want to thank you for contributing to a more equitable world. And we promise to continue our pursuit of better coffee every harvest.
This year we embarked on our 15 year anniversary and to some this may not mean much, but for the farmers who pioneered an entirely new supply chain in coffee, who were told it couldn't be done, this is a true testament to the power they hold if only they are given the opportunity to take it.
We were honored in April with the 2021 SCA Sustainability Award for our Business Model. Carlos Reynoso, Pachamama’s vice-president, representing member Manos Campesinas in Guatemala, observes
“for the producers who fight every day to maintain their farms and deliver quality coffee, they are the true architects of this business model. We feel quite happy, grateful and inspired”
Welcomed with open arms, our team was able to finally visit our member owners in Huatusco, Veracruz, Mexico at La Union Regional cooperative. When we visit owners we use it to connect, reflect and learn how we can better serve them. At Pachamama, we work for the farmers so everything we do, we do in pursuit of bettering the lives of small-scale producers. They shared with pride and joy their extensive knowledge of growing coffee. And also the great challenges that they face as small-scale producers including the pandemic, climate change and global market forces. It is a privilege to be at the receiving end of all of their hard work, to enjoy organic coffee that took years to get to our cup.
We brought events back to our cafes to celebrate the culture and traditions of our owners and build community in Sacramento. We started off with live music and food truck in East Sacramento for Dia de la Pachamama, leading into an Ethiopian New Year celebration and ending off with Dia de Los Muertos celebration.
In April 2021, we began carbon offsets for all online orders. So far we have offset 3,800+ metric tons of CO2 -- meaning 33,000+ km of forest have been protected.
We have some really exciting projects in line for the next year and we cannot wait to share all the work we have been doing with you all. To growing our cafes, our roastery and advancing sustainability commitments, here's to 2022!
