Problem

About 50% of coffee produced in Nicaragua is from the department of Jinotega in northern Nicaragua, where the “Las Hermanas" (The Sisters) coffee cooperative is located. It is also one of the regions where the coffee crisis has aggravated poverty the most in Latin America. Without access to credit to survive the growing season and improve their farms, farmers here cannot access premium Fair Trade prices for their coffee.

The Gift

Access to Fair Trade markets has played a significant role in improving people’s incomes. The Sisters’ cooperative is one which has been successful at gaining such access. They are associated with SOPPEXCCA, a federation of small-scale coffee cooperatives in the Jinotega region of Nicaragua that produces, processes and commercializes members’ coffee for the Fair Trade market. The Sisters’ coffee is grown entirely by the coop’s 148 women members.

They have already enjoyed success, using the profits from their premium prices to pay debts, improve gardens, and buy more land. Their director, Fátima Ismael, is a dynamic woman with an extensive background in agricultural engineering.

Your support of The Sisters, through financing from Root Capital (a social investment fund), would help them continue to help affiliated women farmers gain land titles and to produce, manage, and market their own coffee.