Soppexcca is a cooperative of 650 members located in the mountains of Jinotega in Nicaragua. Sixty eight farmers started the cooperative in 1997. It’s is not only known for quality, but more importantly for its gender inclusion and empowerment of its women producers. Forty percent of members are female.
The group is led by Fátima Ismael. Fátima is a well-recognized name in specialty coffee for her work with Soppexcca. Her work focuses on helping female farmers gain access to land to produce and market their own coffees. The group’s brand, Las Hermanas, directly benefits women and their families as profits from the sale go directly to cervical cancer prevention programs. The cooperative also invests in scholarship programs and education and arts classes for children of members. With a foundational believe to create a humane environment and active participation of its members, the cooperative is one of our longest partnerships as it aligns so clearly with our own values.