Pangaea Organica

”Fair Trade creates a relationship between a consumer who receives a product of excellent quality and a producer who gets a fair price for it. In addition to quality we have something other sellers cannot offer to the consumer — the chance to help communities develop by supporting farmer-owned organizations and care for the environment through the purchase of organic coffee.” -- Victor Perezgrovas, Unión Majomut Export Manager

Unión Majomut is a cooperative comprised of 1,700 producers in 29 communities located in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. The co-op was founded in 1983 with the goal of improving the lives of coffee producers in these communities. In 1992, Unión Majomut became certified by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO). The organization now exports to Europe, Japan, and the United States.

The Fair Trade price has enabled Unión de Ejidos y Comun de Caficultores Benificio Majomut to establish various social and productive programs.

Productive Investment. The co-op sponsors a training program that addresses issues of small-scale coffee production. The co-op founded a small-scale coffee roasting and milling business that sells ground coffee to the local market. The co-op hired a team of agronomists, agricultural technicians, accountants, anthropologists, and computer specialists.

Credit Program. Unión Majomut created a program that offers micro-credit to co-op members.

Womens Programs. Women formed twenty-eight groups promoting organic coffee production, chicken farming, food safety, and healthcare.