Uciri: a partnership of 15 years

This community located in mountains on the West of the Chiapas, in Mexico, groups together 2500 small growers and 55 different Indian communities. The Arabica plantations are at an altitude of 1500 metres and coffee is grown according to organic standards. The income generated by faire trade has allowed the creation of two bus routes, a medical centre, a bank and an organic agriculture school. It has also allowed the community to invest in economic diversification projects to counter rural desertification.

Malongo chose to establish a close relationship with the Uciri Cooperative because of the quality of its coffee and its firm moves to establish lasting development. It is alsobecause of the quality of Uciri’s relationship with Father Van der Hoff who – as well as being the founder of fair trade and of the Max Havelaar seal of approval – still lives there among the small growers.

Haïti: entrepreneurial solidarity

For several years now, Haiti has suffered from a catastrophic economic and political situation. This country – considered by the United Nations as being one of the most retarded in the world – is on its last legs. And yet Haiti could produce a very good quality of coffee and could become an important producer country.

Moreover, its population – 50 % of which is under the age of 15 – suffers from a high unemployment rate. Malongo is concentrating on these two aspects: boosting the cultivation of coffee and providing aid for the development of social and welfare programmes.

Visit the Malongo Haïti website.

Zimbabwe: ethical trade

The Farfell plantation produces an excellent quality of coffee, quite singular because of its acidity. This plantation is also under the threat of expropriation by the State; it is subject to occasional military exactions and financial difficulties due to runaway inflation.

To avoid this plantation disappearing, Malongo is committed to a long-term partnership with Farfell, resting firstly on the application of fair trade conditionsto coffee purchases and secondly on a social and medical facility for plantation workers and their children.