Welcome to
Oaxaca
location
oaxaca
México
Océano
Pacífico
Golfo de México
Guatemala
Our presence in Oaxaca
Hectares
Coffee producers
149
442
Average farm size per producer (Ha)
Men
Women
0.33 ha
245
197
Communities
39
Coffee production in Oaxaca
4
Production in Oaxaca during the 2019-2020 harvest was 354K bags (60kg)
Oaxaca contributes to 8,9% of the national production
place
1,0
Average farm size
hectares
Varietals
Typica, Bourbon, Oro Azteca, Marsellesa and Mundo Novo
95%
More than 95% of the coffee is washed (no official data available)
400-2,000
ms.n.m
Sources : Mexico’s Coffee: states and regions /Review Fitotec Mexico/Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Production methods in Oaxaca
5
40
30
20
10
Forest system
Traditional polyculture
Commercial polyculture
Shade-grown monoculture
Full-sun monoculture
Note: Although there is no official study, based on our empiric observation at Ensambles, approximately 90% of the production systems can be described as traditional polycultures and rustic forest systems.
*Height in meters
*100% of the farms we buy coffee from are traditional polyculture systems.
Indigenous languages in Oaxaca
4,132,148 total speakers
416,082
population
259,472
population
173,088
population
121,859
population
Mixe
113,133
population
110,186
population
Chinanteco
Others
Mazateco
Zapoteco
Mixteco
In the communities where we buy coffee the producers are native speakers of indigenous languages, with 75% speaking Mazatec and 25% speaking Mixtec.
Culture and tradition
1
The festival of the dead or S'ui k'ien is an important ritual for the Mazatecs. It is celebrated from October 27 to November 5, a period when work activities are paralyzed, because it is the time when the living receive the purified souls of the deceased. On the first day it is believed that the dead leave the underworld in the form of huehuentones or chá so h'o or chájma in Mazateco.
2
The Mazatec agricultural calendar is regarded as a valuable guide for food production. It provides precise dates for sowing various crops such as corn, pumpkin, chayote, beans, coffee. Additionally, it serves as a reliable resource for determining the ideal timing for crucial agricultural practices, including fertilisation, weed control, and planting.
Agriculture and economy
Because of the long distances from urbanised areas and trade centres, coffee-growing communities developed a solid food production system of organic food.
Food production relies heavily on family farming. This approach fosters a sense of reciprocity and communal effort known as "Faena" (referred to as tequio, guelaguetza, fajina, kórima, among others in different regions). For instance, community members take turns assisting each other in harvesting crops, eliminating the need for external harvesters.
Community organisation plays a vital role in decision-making processes, encompassing various sectors such as security, education, healthcare, sports.
Challenges in Oaxaca
Oaxaca is the third poorest state in Mexico, with 64% of is population living in poverty (24.3% extreme poverty and 39.6% moderate poverty).
The education sector in the state is among the most vulnerable in the country, ranking high in educational lag, with an illiteracy rate of 11.8%.
The precarious and insufficient road infrastructure hinders access and circulation in the region, reducing the competitiveness of the coffee industry.
The lack of access to market and financing for coffee farmers leads to poor farm management which negatively impacts the yields.
The absence of coffee tree renovation means most plantations are old and very vulnerable to pests, diseases, and climate change, further impacting the yields.
Ensambles regenerating
We trained and purchased coffee from around 442 producers in the Sierra Mazateca:
-
197 women
-
245 men
We impacted 149 hectares owned by small-holder producers and around 39 Mazatec and Mixtec indigenous communities.
We established a collection warehouse and a mobile cupping lab in Huautla de Jiménez, where we analysed approximately 850 offer samples.
We helped improve the household income of our allied producers by paying 70% above local prices.
Women producers make up 45% of our networkpromoting female empowerment, financial independence, and helping to close gender inequality gaps.
In collaboration with NUUP, we are implementing the Sirio digital platform to georeference all the producers’ plots. This allows us to verify that farms are not located in deforested areas and to ensure compliance with the EUDR.
We keep encouraging coffee production in agroforestry systems that provide environmental services and contribute to mitigate the effects of climate change.
