Female farmers gather in Rwanda
photo credit: cafefemenino.com/story
Every cup of coffee…
reflects generations of commitment from diverse coffee farming communities throughout the coffee belt region. Yet, historically, the coffee workers who harvest and process coffee struggle to earn viable incomes and access the resources needed to ensure their basic needs.
This struggle amplifies for female workers who represent the majority of coffee farm laborers.
In 2003, a new coffee cooperative, Café Femenino, emerged to address the fallout from this gender disparity and empower those responsible for the majority of the work.
Globally, across the coffee belt region, women complete 70% of the labor-intensive coffee farming work. However, women only represent 15% of those who own the land or the rights to any profits from the coffee farming industry. Cultural traditions and economic challenges further hinder the earning capacity of women in these regions.
“Studies show that empowering women coffee farmers leads to healthier families, more resilient communities, and higher quality crops. In fact, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says that closing the global gender gap in agriculture would increase yields on farms by 20-30%, which could in turn reduce the number of hungry people in the world by 12-17%.”
Café Femenino launched with 464 determined women in northern Peru. They united and separated their coffee production from that of the men and created the CECANOR coffee cooperative. In a short time, the Organic Products Trading Company (OPTCO) merged with CECANOR’s efforts to establish Café Femenino.
“The Café Femenino coffee program is one-of-a-kind ethical sourcing model committed to ending the cycle of poverty affecting women coffee farmers across the world.”
Vienna Coffee Company (VCC) recognizes the value Café Femenino brings to the communities it supports and the superior specialty coffee products produced. Since 2008, VCC sources speciality coffees from Café Femenino to support their efforts and bring their high quality coffees into our community. This is one way to hold true to our mission to enrich the lives of customers and producers alike. Our Organic Sumatra is just one example of beans we are thrilled to bring into our Roastery and it is currently available at the Vienna Coffee House or through our online store. In May 2022, we spotlight it as one of our Featured coffees.
Every pound of Café Femenino coffee you purchase from VCC generates a donation to our local shelter and advocacy provider for victims of domestic abuse, Haven House, and the Café Femenino Foundation.
“This donation is especially heartfelt for us because as an organization who primarily serves females, we understand how women can feel isolated in male-dominated societies. Many of our victims also have very little financial control or decision-making power.”
Café Femenino guarantees female coffee farmers within their cooperatives the legal rights to, and the financial benefits from, the land on which they farm and many other benefits.
The women and the associated communities note a positive cultural shift by participating in the program. Not only do the women receive the due credit for their work, but the communities also report reductions in physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. The increased income for families results in better housing, schooling, and nutrition.
Cafe Femenino Guatemala Program of Nahuala
photo credit: Café Femenino/Facebook
Since its inception in the single country of Peru, Café Femenino’s program has extended into nine coffee-producing countries. It distributes to 250 roasters across the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and Europe.
In addition, the Café Femenino Foundation formed in 2004 as a 501c3 foundation in harmony with the mission of Café Femenino. The foundation works through established cooperatives to foster positive change, ensure gender equality, and reduce poverty and abuse. Women from coffee-producing communities generate requests for grants funded through the foundation.
“Enhancing the lives of women and their families in the coffee-producing communities throughout the world”
At Vienna Coffee Company,
we continuously strive to be a market leader by offering you excellent specialty coffees from across the globe. But we remain steadfast in our vision to pursue and provide craft coffees that are sourced sustainably and provide a living wage for coffee workers regardless of gender.
In addition to our Organic Sumatra sourced through Café Femenino, we also offer a variety of Fair Trade Certified, Organic, and single-origin coffees. Try one or several to ensure you capture your favorite flavor notes in your coffee and help us ensure responsible sourcing from seed to cup.