Pachamama Coffee Farmers

As you probably know, Pachamama Coffee is wholly owned and governed by thousands of #smallholders— and its 100% farmer-governed #BoardofDirectors reflects that. We're thrilled the Board has chosen #Sacramento for its annual meeting this year, where they will strategize around the company’s long-term planning as well as tour their facilities and convene with industry experts. Plus, they're also hoping to meet YOU! Join us in our Midtown location (919 20th St.) May 17th at 7pm Pacific Time for music, beverages and #communitybuilding. This perfectly coincides with the inaugural #TerraMadreAmericas event just down the road, organized by #SlowFood Coffee Coalition. Come make an evening of it!

It's been over a year since Edward (Ted) Fischer wrote (and Peter Giuliano intro-ed) this exemplary piece on value vs. values in the coffee industry and almost a month since Pachamama CEO Thaleon Tremain spoke on a similar topic at Specialty Coffee Association #Expo. Who defines and determines value continues to be a thorny, uncomfortable topic; intrinsic attributes are constructed by industry insiders, while extrinsic values are capitalized on by traders and roasters. Interestingly, both the intrinsic and extrinsic are inherently supplied by farmers, often #smallholders (who are responsible for the vast majority of specialty coffee). Yet somehow their financial share is just pennies on the dollar... and their ownership share of where coffee is roasted, branded and sold is zero. This paradox, deeply felt by producers for generations yet only recently finding its way into industry rhetoric, is why Pachamama exists. Values are what determines our value... and farmer-owners capture virtually all of it.

As always, it was a honor to spend time with a longtime friend and Pachamama farmer-owner on a recent trip to Nicaragua. Alexa's farm is a very space place, pulsing with life. And at the heart of it all is a story of exceptional women, powerful resilience and incredible coffee. Check out our blog to meet Alexa and learn more about her journey

Want to join our team? We're hiring a part-time customer service specialist in El Dorado Hills, CA. Apply today: https://lnkd.in/gGbxqXri

What's going on with #cacaoprices today could be the future of coffee. Excellent analysis from Emily Stone of Uncommon Cacao, with a farmer-focused lens. No matter what wave of market volatility hits, in the end, these “fundamentals” punish commodity producers in the Global South because they have zero market power. In order to add value and create sustainable brand equity, it makes sense for producers to develop Intellectual Property to de-commoditize their green coffee. Market power in specialty coffee is consolidated in the brands that consumers value. We don't "trade" coffee at Pachamama, rather we efficiently move it from the farmer to the consumer at an average revenue of more than $16 per pound roasted. Our coffee is no longer a commodity. Farmers own the entire supply chain - based in California - where we roast and brew the farmers' best beans. For us, coffee is not a raw material viewed as a Cost of Goods Sold. Paying for coffee is paying people. We treat coffee as part of the business overhead. And we always do our best to pay our people more every year. In doing so, we just so happen to produce higher quality each harvest, which is to the benefit of our customers, the end-consumers.

"In general, I think the world needs shorter supply chains... connecting the consumer with the producers." Thrilled to be featured in the Sacramento Business Journal Sacramento Business Journal in this piece exploring how Pachamama redefines the notion of 'think local; act global' with our uniquely cooperative-based farm to cup model. 

It probably goes without saying that trees are critical to coffee. Yes, coffee comes from trees... which also means coffee supports all the amazing things do (think: sequester carbon, give off oxygen, prevent erosion, promote biodiversity). In fact, #agroforestry coffee, the kind produced by #smallholder #indigenousfarmers--like the 400,000 who own Pachamama--has comprable conservation as natural forests. For many years, we've had a 'Plant a Tree' program, where consumers can support Pachamama farmers' reforestation efforts. What a great way to celebrate #ArborDay!

If you don't know the story behind our name, Pachamama means 'Mother Earth.' We were born on the premise of protecting the environment--championing the places coffee comes from and people who grow it. This starts by honoring indigenous-led #regenerativeagriculture... but it doesn't end there. It also means putting these multi-generational ecosystem stewards front and center, with full equity in the entire value chain. Pachamama Farmers is owned by 400,000 farmers across five countries. Each one lives the spirit of #EarthDay every single day, in every single coffee bean. As a company where they're board members, stakeholders and employers, Pachamama is proud to know their contributions to preserving our planet are being economically and socially validated.

Guest Barista alert! Come join us on the #SCAExpo floor this Friday, where Pachamama will be serving up our maple cold brew with partners-in-cooperation Maple Valley Cooperative! Booth 417, from 10am-1pm.

Let the countdown for #SCAExpo begin! Pachamama is thrilled to be leading critical conversations around equity, value distribution and extrinsic quality factors (think external to what's 'in the cup'-- environmental, social and upstream economic contributions). We'll be joining Kim Elena Ionescu and Peter Giuliano to share our experience on a Green Coffee Connect panel (04/13 10am-1pm) and then again at the Meta-Cupping session (4/14 11:30-12:30). And don't forget to find us on the Expo floor, where we'll be joining Maple Valley Cooperative as "guest barista," sampling our maple cream cold brew Friday 4/12 at Booth 417 from 10am-1pm. Looking forward to meeting you there!