farmer ownership
SERVING COFFEE FARMERS SINCE 2006
Pachamama Coffee is a global cooperative wholly owned by thousands of smallholder farmers in Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico and Ethiopia. Based in California, Pachamama oversees a roastery, retail cafes and a national wholesale business. Pachamama Coffee is cooperatively owned by farmer-owned producer organizations. Our vertically-integrated model allows coffee farmers to earn a greater share of the retail value of their roasted coffee, creating a virtuous circle that benefits customers, farmers and the planet.
SOUTH-TO-NORTH
Vertical Integration in Specialty Coffee
By retaining ownership of their best coffee and selling it directly to consumers in North America, Pachamama farmers capture 5x more revenue, earn more profit and have much greater incentive to invest in their small farms. Profitable farmers can adapt to climate change, regenerate their land, and deliver even better coffee next harvest.
five member-cooperatives of pachamama coffee
Perú
Founded in 1967. Based in Quillabamba, Perú, the COCLA co-op is owned by 3,500 small-scale coffee farmers. COCLA's late leader, Raúl del Águila, was the founding president of Pachamama in 2005.
Nicaragua
Founded in 1993. Representing 2,300 families in northern Nicaragua, PRODECOOP cooperative is based in Esteli and led by Merling Preza. Member-owner of Pachamama since 2005.
Guatemala
Founded in 1997. Manos Campesinas is an association of 15 communities and 1,073 coffee farmers in the highlands of southwestern Guatemala. Member-owner of Pachamama since 2005.
México
Founded in 1982. Nestled high in the mountains of Veracruz, México, La Unión Regional de Huatusco is a cooperative of 2,000 family farmers. Member-owner of Pachamama since 2006.
Ethiopia
Founded in 1999. Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union represents thousands of smallholders across Ethiopia, including Sidama, Yirgacheffe and Limu. Member-owner of Pachamama since 2006.
pachamama's board of directors
Each of the five cooperatives of Pachamama elects one representative to serve on the board of directors and to lead the company's decision-making process. There are only farmer representatives in the boardroom.
Merling Preza - president
A co-founder of Pachamama, Merling serves as the cooperative's President and Chair of the Board of Directors. Ms Preza is the general manager of PRODECOOP in Nicaragua, a co-op representing 2,300 families. A visionary leader on the global stage, Ms. Preza is a dedicated advocate for smallholder farmers, women's empowerment and cooperative ownership.
Carlos Reynoso - VICE PRESIDENT
A co-founder of Pachamama Coffee, Carlos Reynoso serves as the cooperative's Vice President. Mr. Reynoso is the general manager of Manos Campesinas in Guatemala, representing more than 1,073 smallholder coffee farmers. Mr. Reynoso has been with Pachamama since 2003.
Rene Ixtla Herrera - DIRECTOR
A third generation coffee farmer, Mr. Ixtla Herrera is the President of La Union Regional in Huatusco, Mexico, and serves as a Director of Pachamama Coffee Cooperative. La Union Regional was founded in 1982 and is democratically owned and governed by more than 2,000 family farmers.
Vladmir Vivanco - DIRECTOR
Vladimir Vivanco represents Pachamama's founding member in Peru, COCLA. Mr. Vivanco is the cooperative's general manager, answering to more than 3,500 families in the Cusco department of Peru. Founded in 1967, COCLA has a long history of co-op development, smallholder empowerment and alternative trade innovations.
Dejene Dadi - DIRECTOR
Mr Dadi represents thousands of smallholder coffee farmers in Ethiopia as general manager of Oromia Coffee Farmers' Cooperative Union (OCFCU). Founded in 1999, OCFCU has grown from 34 cooperatives to a nationwide union representing over 562,000 farmers, strengthening Ethiopia’s coffee sector through quality production, sustainability and farmer empowerment.
Carlos Reynoso
VICE PRESIDENT
“Our dream is to put a face to the roasted coffee, more than just being a commodity producer.The difference is that we own Pachamama - the entire process from seed to cup. We bring more benefits to the producers and have proven that’s possible.”
Why Co-ops?
Social Impact
Governed by the people they serve, cooperatives keep money in the community and prioritze funding for the economic, social and cultural needs of the people. Hear from farmer owner Alexa Marin about some of the gender equity programs that Prodecoop in Nicaragua implements for its members.
A Virtuous Cycle
Better Coffee Every Harvest
It all begins with you. When you choose to deal directly with farmers, you empower their communities by making them the owners of the finished product and a valuable brand. This simple switch can turn a negative into a positive for farmers, fueling a virtuous circle that provides profits and sustainability on the farm, in turn leading to better coffee for you every harvest.