Unión de Ejidos y Comunidades San Fernando (UESF)

For more than 40 years, the farmers of Unión de Ejidos San Fernando have shown what can happen when people work together.

Based in the beautiful state of Chiapas in southern Mexico, the cooperative brings together hundreds of smallholder coffee farmers who believe that by sharing knowledge, resources and opportunities, everyone can thrive.

We've been working with San Fernando since 1996, building a partnership that's helped farmers invest in better coffee, stronger communities and a more sustainable future.

San Fernando's coffee grows beneath the shade of native trees in one of Mexico's richest natural landscapes.

Many farmers are certified organic, protecting soils, wildlife and water while producing exceptional-quality Arabica coffee. Every harvest is carefully hand-picked before being washed, dried and quality checked in the cooperative's own cupping laboratory, ensuring every lot meets the high standards the farmers are proud of. 

Today the cooperative exports its coffee around the world, while continuing to invest in sustainable farming that protects the land for future generations. 

The cooperative uses the benefits of Fairtrade to strengthen farming businesses and support the wider community. That includes helping farmers renovate ageing coffee trees, providing technical advice, improving homes, supporting education, creating opportunities for women and young people, and even developing local cafés that celebrate coffee grown in the region. 

By investing together, the cooperative helps families build more secure livelihoods while continuing to produce outstanding coffee.

Silvia Herrera, a coffee farmer from San Fernando, represents producers on the Cafédirect Board, helping ensure that the voices of coffee-growing communities are part of the decisions we make.

It's one of the ways we do business differently - working alongside the people who grow our coffee, not simply buying from them.

Founded: 1984

Location: Chiapas, Mexico

Partnership with Cafédirect: Since 1996

Coffee: Organic Arabica, hand-picked and washed

Known for: Shade-grown coffee, strong community programmes and award-winning quality.