Our Vision
Women have long worked for coffee.
Now it’s time to make coffee work for women. Specialty coffee producers should be fairly compensated with prices that reflect coffee quality, as well as what specialty coffee consumers pay for when they purchase roasted coffees. To achieve this outcome, coffee producers need access to better market information, to relevant business acumen, and to large and diverse market networks.
These market challenges are amplified for women coffee producers.
Currently, women perform a majority of the field work, harvesting, and sorting in the cultivation of coffee. However, they are underrepresented in transporting, exporting, and ownership of coffee farms.
Grounds for Empowerment provides women specialty coffee producers the business know-how that helps them reach their full economic potential.
Our Solution
Genuine economic opportunity.
Transforming the economic potential inherent in promising specialty coffee farms into genuine economic opportunities requires a holistic approach; one that works on relevant pricing information, business know-how, and marketplace connections.
Our Business Tools Workshops support women specialty coffee producers as they transform promising coffee farms into prosperous small businesses. Continue reading for more insight into the model we use to achieve these changes.
"This network of committed supporters and consumers motivates me to maintain my promise to quality as a specialty coffee producer.”
- Alexa Marin, Finca San Antonio
Our Model
A unique approach to empowerment.
Cohort of Farmers
GFE works with partners on the ground in Nicaragua to recruit a small cohort of promising women specialty coffee farmers. These farmers participate in our programming and travel for events. Our partner, Vega Coffee, roasts and sells GFE coffees to supportive customers around the United States.
Learning Modules
GFE develops and delivers practical learning sessions that help coffee farmers participate more effectively in specialty coffee markets. With the help of a diverse group of advisors, GFE farmers gain unique perspectives on topics like storytelling, social media, cost of production, and relationship management.
Market Connections
By engaging university-based coffee communities in the broader specialty coffee market, GFE creates a more receptive network for small specialty coffee farmers. GFE farmers connect with the local market at the annual Community Forum in Atlanta & with the global market by attending the Specialty Coffee Expo.