Coffee Farms for the Future

Coffee producers belonging to the Asociación de Productores COMSA (APROCOMSA) in Marcala, Honduras, used their Fair Trade Premium to support an ongoing priority. They focused on maintaining highly productive coffee farms while meeting the strict standards required by certifications, clients, and commercial partners. Working together through collective decision making, the producers dedicated a portion of their funds to improve daily farm management and protect the natural resources linked to their coffee production. Using approximately $14,020 USD from their Community Development Fund, APROCOMSA distributed organic inputs to about 1,209 producer members. This strategic move helped boost coffee productivity and overall quality across their farms. The cooperative purchased a specialized foliar fertilizer designed specifically for coffee agriculture and fully approved for organic growing. This fertilizer delivers vital micronutrients to prevent plant deficiencies. It improves overall plant health and makes the crops much more resilient to damaging diseases such as coffee rust (roya). Alongside these direct farm investments, producers approved key environmental activities to protect local coffee growing areas for the future. APROCOMSA operates a local nursery that produces fresh coffee plants for renewing older plots. It also grows trees for reforestation projects on coffee farms and in ecologically sensitive zones across the cooperative's region. To advance this effort, the cooperative invested $930 USD to purchase new tree seedlings. Together, these actions promote lasting farm sustainability and support strong environmental management throughout the communities where these members live and work.