SAN LUCAS MEXICO

A coffee producing country with so much potential, Mexico produces some of our favourite coffees every year in tough and unpredictable conditions. We are committed to sourcing coffees from progressive exporters, who value producers and work to improve conditions and productions for the long term.

Though coffee from Mexico is always of excellent quality many challenges exist for producers to make it a viable source of income, with yields only a fraction of what they are in other countries and internal struggles such as localised crime, inaccessibility and a lack of agricultural education. Ensambles work closely with producers and associations to improve quality and yields, eventually leading to increased income and a more sustainable livelihood in coffee production.

Agroforestry is a way of growing coffee alongside other trees and plants, either by planting coffee in established forests or purposefully planting other cash crops to grow alongside. This can be a great tool to combat climate change in coffee growing countries, as well as maximising profits for producers.

In this region of Mexico, producers use a traditional polyculture system for coffee growing, where fruits, corn and timber trees are planted alongside coffee, increasing diversity and resilience to climatic and pest issues.