Cafe Justo, meaning “Fair Coffee,” is a grower owned and operated coffee cooperative based in Salvador Urbina, Chiapas, Mexico that grows, roasts, packages, and ships coffee throughout the US. Despite the name, this is not “fair coffee.”
In fact, the funds that are made from the coffee that is sold is given back into the community of farmers that harvest the coffee. It’s one of the most creative alternatives to migration, and it tastes delicious!
Let me give you some background on their story. Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world with most of its large producers being based in the continent of South America.
During the 1990’s there was a 400% drop in international coffee prices that forced farmers to leave their fields. However, some of the farmers, including the farmers in Chiapas, left their fields and have tried to find home elsewhere.
This was dangerous not only for the farmers, but for their families. If the “man of the house” wasn’t making enough money, everyone else in the family had to chip in. Meaning that the children of the said farmer would have to drop out of school and look for a job.
The women in the house also needed to find a job, making it impossible for them to nurse and care for their children. Because of this, many families try to travel and leave the country. This was destructive to the community of Salvador Urbina; what were they to do?
Luckily, when Cafe Justo was founded in 2002, they were able to save their community in a fascinating way. When Cafe Justo sells their coffee, Salvador Urbina gets a fair amount of the profit due to the Fair Trade movement.
The fair trade movement allows for the improvement of the lives of the farmers in developing countries through more reasonable trade relationships. However, Cafe Justo takes it a step further. Cafe Justo ensures that the members of the Cafe Justo Cooperative are paid 27.5% of the cost of a pound of retail coffee and 35.5% of the wholesale price.
By doing this, the farmers get paid roughly three times more than what growers are typically paid. Cafe Justo has created many opportunities for not just the farmers to stay in their homeland, but for their children as well.
Instead of children dropping out of school to help their parents, kids can stay in school and become doctors, lawyers, and even farmers if they want to continue the family tradition.
Cafe Justo is an important part of helping solve the migration problems. I have tried some of their coffee and I will say it is pretty darn good. If you want to order some, go to the link provided below and see for yourself.