Women Power is a hallmark of Exportadora de Café California (ECC). This initiative celebrates the coffee produced by indigenous women, who play a vital role as keepers of traditional knowledge that is essential for preserving Mexican culture within their communities. The Women Power label was created for a group of women in the Los Altos de Chiapas region who cultivate and harvest this coffee with care and dedication every year.
Coffee availability in Mexico has significantly declined due to several factors, including coffee rust and the aging of plantations. This decrease in production has led to the migration of entire families, or parts of families, to urban areas, resulting in the abandonment of coffee farms. The migration of men has altered traditional social norms, leading to a greater involvement of women in agriculture. Women have always been central to economies—not only as farmers but also as entrepreneurs and custodians of cultural heritage. However, persistent gender inequalities, especially in rural areas, limit women’s control over resources, education, employment, and decision-making, leaving them particularly vulnerable. Most female coffee farmers find themselves in these challenging circumstances.
The group of farmers includes 102 women: 12 under the age of 29, 57 between 30 and 50, and 33 over 50. This initiative seeks to address these ongoing inequalities and create additional economic opportunities for women. We propose a synergistic partnership based on shared values, aimed at promoting sustainable and inclusive coffee sourcing from this group of women coffee farmers:
- 102 women coffee farmers
- 1,500 bags of 69 kg each
- 5 municipalities
Exportadora de Café California (ECC) has over 80 years of experience in coffee export. As part of the Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG) since 2014, ECC successfully marketed specialty coffee for the first time. After seven years of development, the company decided to establish a dedicated team to manage and operate its specialty coffee division.
ECC is the culmination of a lifetime of work with Mexican producers, focused on achieving the highest quality coffee. Many of these producers are part of our “Por Más Café – Bloom” program, which provides them with the opportunities and resources needed to maximize their crop potential. Several of ECC’s specialty coffee brands proudly bear the seal of this program. In 2023, ECC expanded and remodeled its specialty coffee laboratory to reinforce its commitment to quality, with Q-Graders ensuring and maintaining the highest standards.
This coffee is grown in the shade of avocado trees, with absolutely no intervention, and is processed using a natural anaerobic method.