Fairtrade Honduras Women’s Cooperative

Washed Process Explained:

The most popular way of processing coffee. The fruit flesh is mechanically removed with a machine known as a depulper, the beans are then put into a water tank to ferment. The amount of time it takes to ferment depends on climate factors such as altitude and temperature, in hotter regions the fermentation will be quicker and vice versa. The process typically takes between 24 – 72 hours. Once complete, the coffee beans are then dried on patios or raised beds.

Flavour Profile / Light body, retains the citrus and floral flavours.

About AMPROCAL Cooperative:

This all-female association was founded in 2007 by eight women to strengthen the presence of female producers in the area. Originally a microfinance operation, it is now not only a green coffee supplier but they also have their own roastery and coffee shop. They now have over 100 female members- not all growing coffee. They also offer coffee roasting and micro-credit services. Coffee producers can (for a small fee)  bring their coffee in parchment, have it roasted to a particular degree, and have it pre-ground.

The Cooperative is certified Fairtrade and have 39 of their members registered as Organic producers. all farmers are provided support from an agronomist to improve the productivity and sustainability of their farms. They also focus on environmental conservation, with pulp and processing water being turned into organic fertiliser. The AMPROCAL office itself is powered by the waste waters from coffee, this produces biogas and helps to reduce their carbon footprint.

Contributing Farm: La Fortuna

Altitude: 1540m
Producer: Delmy Rogalado

About: Delmy remembers her parents busy cultivating small plots of sugarcane when she was still little. They cultivated it for food security and sold the surplus. The community where she lives is very small and in fact, it was the first place where coffee first arrived in the department of Ocotepeque. It was then that the family saw the potential of replacing the cane fields with coffee plants.

With this beautiful culture they raised 10 children, to whom they inherited their farms but above all, their work, tradition, and love for what they did. Now with three children of her own, Delmy’s drive is to pass on that inheritance she gained from her parents. Not just the farm, but the passion. She views this as the biggest fortune, and so named the farm after it.

Produced as a shade grown crop, coffee grows under canopies of various heights with lemon, orange, banana, pine and other trees. All the coffee is collected separately by variety, washed coffee is depulped immediately and the honeys the next day. In the case of the washed coffees, this has to be done before 12 hours of wet fermentation. This process lasts approximately 22 days at a temperature no higher than 30 degrees, depending on the weather.

Contributing Farm: Las Vueltas

Altitude: 1450m
Producer: Yeni Abrego

About: Yeni is a 22-year-old passionate about coffee, She began to work in this field after taking her father as an example, who has been a coffee farmer for many years. With his guidance she managed to acquire the plot that she currently produces. For her it has been a very big challenge to work in this sector of the economy, since the majority of those who work in it are men. In addition to this, her youth, which for many can be seen as a disadvantage she sees as a possibility to nourish herself with knowledge and experience in relation to the fruit. With the advice of AMPROCAL, she is managing to demonstrate that gender and age, far from being stumbling blocks, are reasons to fight for what is desired. The maintenance and harvesting are carried out by the foreman of the farm, whom Yeni appointed. The farm is both organic and fair trade certified. Yeni’s youth allows her to be very receptive to knowledge and to be able to apply it proactively,
working hand in hand with AMPROCAL she wants to continue growing in this area.