Organic-Fair Farming HAND IN HAND-Partner
HAND IN HAND partner Unión de la Selva
Hero coffee from Mexico
HAND IN HAND partner Unión de la Selva
The cooperative Unión de la Selva S.C. delivers raw Arabica coffee from the Mexican state Chiapas to Rapunzel via the HAND IN HAND program. The social enterprise was founded by the indigenous communities of the Tojolabales and the Tzeltales, who are descendants of the Maya. Unión de la Selva has the goal to consequently support its members with respect to social issues. Relevant topics include access to their own land, education, health care as well as supply with electrical power and communication.

- Small peasant cooperative in Southern Mexico
- More than 450 members
- Founded in 1979, HAND IN HAND partner since 2021
- Cultivation of Arabica coffee in the regions Sierra, Selva, Altos and Fronteriza

Descendants of the Maya
Chiapas, Mexico's southernmost state, is known for its impressive Maya ruins in the forests. The region has significant economic potential. At the same time, it is also characterized by poverty and the exclusion of certain ethnic groups.
Coffee growers from the indigenous communities Sierra, Selva, Altos and Fronteriza joined forces early on, in order to counteract this development. Fair coffee prices improve both the income and the life quality of the farmers and their families. At the same time, fair prices facilitate investments into production plants and the development of the cooperative's infrastructure. Today, the cooperative has 476 members.
Coffee growers from the indigenous communities Sierra, Selva, Altos and Fronteriza joined forces early on, in order to counteract this development. Fair coffee prices improve both the income and the life quality of the farmers and their families. At the same time, fair prices facilitate investments into production plants and the development of the cooperative's infrastructure. Today, the cooperative has 476 members.

Antonio Hernández Velasco, coffee farmer of the Unión de la Selva Cooperative

Peasants from indigenous communities joined forces

Hero coffee Mexico, whole beans HAND IN HAND
The fair-trade premium for the fair-trade coffee finances child care in the kindergarten. Another project that was started is a recycling project, where children toys are made from collected recycling materials. It is the cooperative's goal to support its members with education, health care, supply of electrical power and communication.
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