Beanology

The co-operative Integral de Comercialización Maya Ixil R.L. was founded in 1998 by 28 member partners who saw the need to band together in order to improve their selling power on the coffee market, as well as to support member farmers' desire to farm using organic practices. Now, a little more than a decade later, the co-op is 190 members strong, and has made great strides in quality thanks to training, collaboration, investment in agricultural techniques, and dedication to excellence.

The farmers represented by Maya Ixil are smallholders who hail from the local commuities of Suan Juan Cotzal, Santa María Nebaj, and San Gaspar Chajul in the Department of Quiche. Aside from coffee, these producers also sell organic honey, and the co-op offers technical assistance to smallholder members to allow them to achieve and maintain their certifications. The co-op also supports gender-equality initiatives, and well as nutrition and food-safety programs for its members.