Coffee Story
Grown in one of the most remote communities in Peubla, the Patlanalan community of producers grow coffee Mundo Novo, Sarchimor, and yellow Caturra varieties on their small farms on the steep slopes of the Veracruz mountains. The coffee producers of Patlanalan live far from their farms, which are located in the higher areas. At the same time, their homes are situated in the lower part of the community around the lagoon. During the harvest, producers rely on family labour for all their work. They co-plant coffee alongside native shade trees such as banana and ice cream bean trees.
Currently, the producers of Patlanalan sell all their coffee in cherry form, as is common in Veracruz. In the past, the producers primarily produced natural coffees. However, due to limited knowledge about the proper management of the natural process, the quality of these coffees was often low.
One key reason producers could only produce natural coffee was that their region supplies water to the entire state of Veracruz. The risk of water contamination from inadequate wastewater management in coffee processing is strictly prohibited. The water sources—including the lagoon, rivers, springs, and underground aquifers—are strongly protected.
Over time, producers learned to harvest and sell coffee in cherry form. While this improved the quality, they still received very low prices from opportunistic local buyers. Some producers sought buyers who could provide clearer information about the quality of their coffee—whether it was genuinely low or their improvements had been recognized.
During one of these searches, a producer connected with a buyer from Veracruz, who then put our partner importer Red Fox in contact with the producers in Patlanalan. Since 2023, Red Fox has been purchasing these coffees and offering producers in Patlanalan significantly better prices. This partnership gives the producers clarity about the true quality of their coffees while providing them with honest, constructive feedback.
This collaboration not only empowers the community, which depends on coffee farming and is supported by family members abroad, but also fosters a sustainable and thriving future for Patlanalan.
