Jose Gomez & Karen Mora.
Exporters, Aponte, Colombia
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When we met Jose Gomez in 2016, he was already an accomplished coffee farmer, but he had never exported a container of coffee before. As he learned the exporting process, we worked closely with him, and it wasn’t long before Think Coffee became the recipient of Jose’s first ever export.Ever since we imported that first Aponte container, we have formed a deep bond with Jose and have come to appreciate his passion for growing his own incredible coffee – while also promoting the coffee grown by his neighbors. His wife, Karen Mora, joined Jose in 2018, and she has become the point person for our housing reconstruction projects throughout the region - in both Aponte and Consaca. She dedicates herself to helping others and finding ways to give back. Karen and Jose are the perfect duo for Think Coffee’s sourcing model.In the years we have known Karen and Jose, they have introduced us to a number of important farming relationships and have been key to everything we do in the region.
There are more than 200 coffee farmers in the native reservation of Aponte, Colombia. Each is a small coffee producer who harvests and dries their own coffee. They then sell the dry coffee in parchment (pergamino) to Jose and Karen, who process the coffee and export directly to Think Coffee. With Jose and Karen’s help we have formed a direct relationship with 20 of these smallholder farmers.
We have verified that these 20 smallholder farmers received a livable wage from our purchase. We also have an ongoing Common Good Project with Jose and Karen to rebuild farmer homes in Aponte.
fair and livable wages.
aponte, colombia
FAIR AND LIVABLE WAGE REPORT
The Standard
Our goal is to ensure a fair and livable wage
for everyone who works on the farm. A “fair
and livable wage” is generally understood to
mean a wage sufficient to enable workers
and their families to meet their basic needs.
For the Central Coffee Growing Regions of
Colombia, the area where Aponte is located,
the Global Living Wage Coalition has
determined that the minimum livable wage
is $509 monthly for the year 2023, which
was the year of our last harvest.
75%
OF COFFEE FARMERS LIVE
IN POVERTY
AND DON’T RECEIVE
FAIR PRICES
(PERFECT DAILY GRIND)
MEETING THE STANDARD
In Aponte, we have a direct contractual
relationship with 20 smallholder farmers who
are paid by our exporting partner, PROCAAL,
when they bring coffee cherries to the dry mill.
In this context, smallholder farmers are the
workers because they generally do not employ
outside labor.
We have verified that on average each
smallholder farmer, after business expenses
were paid, received more than the standard
established by the Global Living Wage
Coalition.
aponte, colombia
FAIR AND LIVABLE WAGE REPORT
The Standard
Our goal is to ensure a fair and livable wage
for everyone who works on the farm. A “fair
and livable wage” is generally understood to
mean a wage sufficient to enable workers
and their families to meet their basic needs.
For the Central Coffee Growing Regions of
Colombia, the area where Aponte is located,
the Global Living Wage Coalition has
determined that the minimum livable wage
is $509 monthly for the year 2023, which
was the year of our last harvest.
75%
OF COFFEE FARMERS LIVE
IN POVERTY
AND DON’T RECEIVE
FAIR PRICES
(PERFECT DAILY GRIND)
MEETING THE STANDARD
In Aponte, we have a direct contractual
relationship with 20 smallholder farmers who
are paid by our exporting partner, PROCAAL,
when they bring coffee cherries to the dry mill.
In this context, smallholder farmers are the
workers because they generally do not employ
outside labor.
We have verified that on average each
smallholder farmer, after business expenses
were paid, received more than the standard
established by the Global Living Wage
Coalition.
project common good.
APONTE - THE 19.
There are more than 200 smallholder coffee farmers in the native reservation of Aponte, Colombia. Each is a small coffee producer who harvests and dries their own coffee. They then sell the dry coffee in parchment (pergamino) to Jose and Karen, who process the coffee and export directly to Think Coffee. With Jose and Karen’s help we have formed a direct relationship with 19 of these smallholder farmers and have verified that the amount they receive from our purchase represents a livable wage for them.
APONTE - THE 19.
There are more than 200 smallholder coffee farmers in the native reservation of Aponte, Colombia. Each is a small coffee producer who harvests and dries their own coffee. They then sell the dry coffee in parchment (pergamino) to Jose and Karen, who process the coffee and export directly to Think Coffee. With Jose and Karen’s help we have formed a direct relationship with 19 of these smallholder farmers and have verified that the amount they receive from our purchase represents a livable wage for them.
FINCA LA MARIA.
In 2021, Karen and Jose introduced us to Weykman Jojoa. Before purchasing his own farm, Weykman worked for many years as a coffee buyer in the region and learned what it takes to grow great coffee. Weykman employs approximately 30 workers on his farm, and with the help of Karen Mora, we helped rebuild the home of one of his workers that was in severe disrepair.
FINCA LA MARIA.
In 2021, Karen and Jose introduced us to Weykman Jojoa. Before purchasing his own farm, Weykman worked for many years as a coffee buyer in the region and learned what it takes to grow great coffee. Weykman employs approximately 30 workers on his farm, and with the help of Karen Mora, we helped rebuild the home of one of his workers that was in severe disrepair.
MELKY CHAVES
We probably wouldn’t have met Melky and his incredible Cup of Excellence coffees without Karen and Jose. Melky is one of the most accomplished farmers in the region, and we have Karen and Jose to thank for the introduction.We have little doubt that Karen and Jose will keep doing great work in the region and will also keep introducing us to more and more accomplished farmers.
MELKY CHAVES
We probably wouldn’t have met Melky and his incredible Cup of Excellence coffees without Karen and Jose. Melky is one of the most accomplished farmers in the region, and we have Karen and Jose to thank for the introduction.We have little doubt that Karen and Jose will keep doing great work in the region and will also keep introducing us to more and more accomplished farmers.
