Annual report 2016

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR Dear friends, De la Gente’s work starts with the determination and passion of our partner farmers, and becomes a reality when we bring together roasters, customers, travelers, educational institutions, and donors, all who share our vision of a more inclusive coffee economy that creates real economic opportunity for small farmers and cross-cultural connections.

In 2016 we finished adding two cooperatives to our coffee commercialization program, Ija’tz and Santa Anita, a project that started in 2015, which broadened our reach to encompass 5 partner cooperatives. To make this growth possible, we built new relationships with coffee roasters and deepened current partnerships.

We continued to add new partner universities in our community tourism program, and launched an inaugural month-long gap year program with St. Norbert College. Our coffee tour was listed in the Lonely Planet Guatemala guide for the first time, and we maintained our #1 ranking and Certificate of Excellence on TripAdvisor, solidifying our reputation as a leader in community tourism in the Antigua Guatemala area.

We debuted new types of training for farmers, including on quality control and agricultural practices. At our annual congress with representatives of our partner cooperatives, we created space to share ideas and best practices, and took the time to listen to our partners and strengthen our relationships.

All of this is made possible by our team, board, and everyone else who makes up the DLG family. I am profoundly grateful for your hard work and dedication, and humbled by the successful collaboration between people of different backgrounds and cultures.

Thank you for your support, and I hope you’ll be part of DLG’s work in 2017 and beyond. ¡Adelante!

Andy Feldman Executive Director

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MISSION:

De la Gente’s mission is to create economic opportunity for coffee communities.

VISION:

We envision a coffee industry that is equitable and inclusive, that enables small-holder farmers to earn a dignified income and live prosperous lives, that facilitates authentic relationships between coffee producers, buyers, and consumers, and that meets economic, social and environmental needs of everyone involved.

De la Gente works with five coffee cooperatives across Guatemala to create economic opportunities for small-holder coffee farmers and their families enabling them to earn a dignified income through our core programs:

1.

Direct trade coffee business - providing market access with more stable prices that are over 20% higher than the farmers would earn in a local market.

2.

Cooperative assistance programs - building farmer & cooperative capacity through training and investment

3.

Community tourism program - creating cross-cultural connections through coffee and diversifying farmer income

Where we work:

San Miguel Escobar:

Region: Antigua Number of Members: 30 Cooperative: Café Artesanal San Miguel Entre Volcanes de Antigua

UPC:

Region: Huehuetenango Number of Members: 150 Cooperative: Unión de Pequeños Caficultores

Ija'tz:

Region: Atitlan Number of Members: 50 Cooperative: Ija’tz

Santa Anita:

Region: San Marcos Number of Members: 8 Cooperative: Asociación de Productores de Café Santa Anita (APCASA)

La Suiza:

Region: San Marcos Number of Members: 116 Cooperative: Asociación Campesinos Unidos para la Paz y el Desarrollo Comunitario (ACUPDIC)

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COFFEE:

De la Gente commercializes coffee from our 5 partner cooperatives, providing improved market access for farmers while delivering a highquality product to coffee roasters and consumers. DLG offers better and more stable prices to farmers, with the opportunity to grow. In 2016, DLG paid an average of 22% more than cooperatives’ next best options.

5

COFFEE: BY THE NUMBERS

5

Cooperatives work with De la Gente

153

Number of farmers who export with DLG

354

Total number of farmers in the cooperatives

TOTAL PAYOUT

TO PRODUCERS $273,589.20* An 11.9% increase over 2015

81,000 POUNDS G R E A T DIRECT FROM COFFEE F A R M E R S

CHANGING LIVES

GENERATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

of green coffee exported in 2016 to USA, Canada, & the Netherlands a 12.11% increase over our 2015 export

2,289.8 POUNDS of roasted coffee sold locally in Guatemala

$17,320.68

Paid out for local orders

OUR TAKE ON TRADE

22%

Average percent paid over street prices

2,000+

People impacted in total

Fair trade? Direct trade? All or none of the above? Today’s discussions about how to make trade more equitable are more confusing than ever. We believe that the best kind of trade is built on long-term relationships, transparency, and a quality product that drives as much value to producers as possible. By building a supply chain that brings together farmers, roasters, and consumers that share these values, we believe we can deliver better and more consistent prices to farmers while building a model of trade that lasts. *FOB (free on board) is the industry standard for pricing in coffee. It does not exactly represent the amount farmers earn, as cooperatives have to pay for milling and export costs out of the export prices, but it’s the easiest way to be able to compare prices.

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Brendon Maxwell - Utopian Coffee

Arnulfo Cuj - Ija'tz Cooperative

"Our goal as a roaster has always been to get as close as possible to the source and the people who are growing the high quality coffees we roast, so it's a pleasure to work with De la Gente and the farmers there. I had the great fortune to travel to Guatemala and spend time with several of the farmers and their families, going with them to their farms where the coffee is grown.

It is incredible to see the care and passion with which they work, which completely aligns with our values as a roaster. It's been great working with DLG and we're excited to continue the relationships there in Guatemala!

Utopian Coffee is located in Fort Wayne, IN"

PARTNERS

"We are happy, happy to be working and building this relationship with De la Gente.

We are thankful for the visits and support that we have received and I am proud of the work we have accomplished together to improve the wellbeing of our coffee plants and our families. Our goals are always to continue improving our processing and the quality of our coffee and we are happy to be working towards these goals with De la Gente, step by step."

Thank you to all of our coffee partners, from the 5 coffee cooperatives we work with on the ground in Guatemala and with all 25 of our roasters & everyone who purchases our roasted coffees online. It is because of your support we are able to accomplish our goals year after year.

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COOPERATIVE

ASSISTANCE

De la Gente works to build the capacity of our partner co-ops to be successful farmer-run organizations that deliver economic benefits for their members and invest in continued improvement of their individual and collective abilities. Through farmer-led trainings, materials, and micro-financing, we provide access to the knowledge and resources they need for success.

AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES: TRAINING & RESOURCE PROVISION

17 FARMERS 66 RAISED CERTIFIED DRYING BEDS in "Responsible Use and

Management of Pesticides, Good Agricultural Practices," through Agrequima in the Santa Anita cooperative & community.

were built in La Suiza & Santa Anita to support farmers to improve processing & quality.

MOTORIZED BOMBA

delivered to the Ija'tz co-op to spray coffee plants with roya treatment & an organic fertilizer produced by the cooperative.

PROCESSING IMPROVEMENTS & QUALITY CONTROL

QUALITY CONTROL

MOISTURE METERS

were delivered to all five of De la Gente's partner cooperatives. Technology in the hands of coffee producers means they have the resources they need to make time sensitive decisions during processing.

Three quality control programs were implemented in 2016 with the La Suiza, Santa Anita, & Ija'tz cooperatives with special attention to the drying process.

FINANCING LAND LOANS & INFRASTRUCTURE FIVE NEW LAND LOANS ISSUED TOTALING

$12,838

SOLAR PANELS WERE FINANCED & INSTALLED ON THE SAN MIGUEL ESCOBAR DRY MILL WHERE 4 OF OUR 5 CO-OPS PROCESS COFFEE.

PORTFOLIO OF 3 LOANS WORTH $7,559.85 $7,559.85

Women's Fund TOTAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO: $60,715.85 - 5 -

COFFEE

CONGRESS

16

FARMERS

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALL 5 CO-OPS REPRESENTED

5 CO-OP

PRESIDENTS

3

WOMEN

Exploring the themes of challenges, opportunities, and cooperative leadership.

De la Gente sponsored two cooperative members, Gabriel and Wilker, to attend a two day roasting course at ANACAFÉ the government agency that manages all things coffee in Guatemala.

Ija'tz means seed in the Mayan language of Kakchiquel, a fitting name for a cooperative that originally started with a seed bank....

De la Gente procured two computers, one for the San Miguel Escobar Cooperative and one for Ija'tz to support the leadership in improving their cooperative enterprises.

ROASTER SPOTLIGHT Nossa Familia Coffee (Portland, OR), has been a DLG roasting partner since 2014. Over the years we have built a strong partnership and facilitated a strong relationship between them and our partner cooperatives and farmers. In 2016, in addition to sourcing green coffee with DLG, Nossa organized a visit to Guatemala for staff and customers to experience local coffee production. During this unique origin visit both sides of the coffee industry were able to sit down together and deepen their understanding of each other's roles and strengthen their relationship. In addition, Nossa provided financial support for the UPC cooperative to renew their organic certification. Organic certifications can be quite expensive and this support from Nossa meant that UPC was able to retain their USDA certification, ensuring a steady supply of organic coffee for Nossa and other customers. This truly exemplifies the benefits of building relationships within the coffee industry though direct trade sourcing.

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COMMUNITY

TOURISM

Our community tourism experiences welcome visitors to local communities and open up a world of adventure, immersion, and exchange. Through spending time with local people and hearing their stories, participants experience the human side of the often faceless coffee industry, and create connections that cross cultural, linguistic, and national barriers.

$44,687.85

PAID OUT TO FARMERS, ARTISANS, & FAMILY MEMBERS FROM DAY TOURS & VOLUNTEERS

People joined us on COFFEE TOUR LEARN PEANUT BUTTER TO COOK 2,246 coffee tours in 2016 W O R K S H O P PEPIAN People joined us for artIRON & WOOD WORKING

MAKE HUIPIL OR BURLAP BAGS

650 isan workshops in 2016

Ranked #1 for things to do in Antigua “You really get to know the coffee farmer by following him up to his coffee fields on the sides of Agua Volcano and then into his home, seeing and taking part in how coffee makes it from the ground to the cup. Roasting, grinding, boiling and tasting the best coffee I have ever had and I loved getting to see what real life in Guatemala is like.” ~ Visitor from June 2016

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SERVICE

LEARNING

Service learning trips create opportunities for authentic exchanges of culture, immersive learning experiences, and adventure, while giving back to local communities. Participants spend a week or more alongside coffee farmers and their families, learning firsthand about the coffee economy and Guatemala’s rich culture and history and working on community-driven projects. SLTs leave a lasting impact on participants and community members alike.

13 GROUPS

$22,479.66

PAID OUT TO FARMERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS

195 PEOPLE JOINED US FOR SERVICE LEARNING TRIPS

6 Projects Constructed

Every year participants spend time working along side cooperative members on farmer-proposed service projects that have a focus on improving livelihoods or quality of life.

Service Learning Trip Reflections "My main highlight was just experiencing new things. I learned about a new culture and got to experience it first hand. I loved participating in the activities, eating the food, and being with all the farmers and DLG staff." ~ Student Participant

"This was one of the most lifechanging experiences I've had thus far. It opened my eyes to how other people live and made me want to help others and travel even more." ~ Student Participant

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THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE 2016 A SUCCESS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Les Stoneham Rupesh Shah Deborah Feldman Catriona Forrester Ira Silver

COFFEE BUYERS

A Happy Life Arcade Coffee Roasters Badger Brothers Coffee Burgies Coffee and Tea Church of St. Michael Deeper Roots Coffee SERVICE LEARNING PARTNERS Higher Ground Coffee Allina Health Hub Coffee Roasters Black Mountain Presbyterian Church Iceworks Ivy Tech Community College Milano Coffee Peace Works Travel Moonbean Coffee Southern Oregon University Mt Maxwell Coffee St. Norbert College North Fork Roasting Co. Trinity Western University Nossa Familia Coffee UW - Eau Claire Peter Warren UW - Oshkosh Richard Giles University of San Diego River Trail Roasters Vanderbilt University Rust Belt Roastery Yale University Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club Wolcott School Snapping Turtle Coffee Roasters True Stone Coffee Roasters VOLCÁN AGUA DONORS $1,000 + Utopian Coffee Co. Gary & Mary Doten Vienna Coffee Co. Nossa Familia Coffee Wings and Roots Wings & Roots Zion Coffee Co VOLCÁN PACAYA DONORS $1-$399 Michelle Andina Scott Forrey Ann Beane Kelli Kaminsky Jennifer Benoit Diane Francis Kathryn Butler Emmy Grace Linda Bytof Kari Grace Mistie Cogbill Liz Hamilton Tim Coggan Taralyn Hardy Shelly Edwardson Katharine Hawley Rita Eckert Erica Helinek Rick Feavel Herb Hurley David Fielder Lani Inverarity Fionnuala Fisk Carol Johnson c/o Relevance Rising Karly Kiefer

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Chris Shen Melina Lew Nick Kozel Salena Kauffman Heidi Giacalone Amy Huff Martin Callaghan Deeper Roots Coffee Alternative Grounds

VOLCÁN FUEGO MONTHLY DONORS George T Mickley Christine Liu Daryl Bosma VOLCÁN ACATENANGO DONORS $400 - $999 Debbie & Steve Feldman North Fork Roasting Company Jeffrey & Sharon Rosenblum Jean Warneke

Sherry Kim Erika Knudsen Natalie Kordal Nina Lorch Julio Martinez Anderson Peggy McDaniel Arthur Mixon Luis Morales Mary OBrien Sue Peltier Edward "Bo" Peterson Teresa Pilarz Paula D Rand - 9 -

Josh Rawitch Henry Ricci Chester Sadler Julia Shaw Bill Shultz Kristen Snyder Herbert Staniszewski Linda Steen David Steuer Joseph Stout Rosemary Stuebi Donald Szumowski Jessica Troxel Trudy Van den Broek-Bogels

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