Mexico Women Power Zongolica

Back by popular demand, this standout coffee from the Zongolica region of Veracruz, Mexico — known as WPZ, or “Women Power Zongolica!” — was grown and produced by 20 women farmers dedicated to preserving their land and cultural heritage.

WPZ comes from women in the Zongolica region of Veracruz, Mexico. The region is deeply influenced by the rich ancestral heritage of its people, most of whom identify as part of the Nahuas indigenous group. For generations, the Nahuas have passed down their language and wisdom about plants, rivers, animals, mountains, the planet, and the universe through storytelling by their elders.

Coffee farms in Zongolica are agro-ecosystems, meaning they consider the environmental impact of farming beyond the farm itself and aim to balance energy and nutrients to preserve the region’s biodiversity. Intercropping and forest conservation are among the common practices.

The coffee was pulped using hand-cranked de-pulpers, washed, and then dried on patios for 15 days. Twenty producers contributed to this lot, each following the same farming and processing methods on her own land.

NKG BLOOM / Por Más Café

The women who contributed to WPZ are also part of NKG BLOOM, an initiative of Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG) that supports the long-term viability of green coffee supplies by equipping smallholder farmers with the tools and resources to maximize farm potential and pursue pathways out of poverty.

Por Más Café, now a part of NKG BLOOM, was launched by NKG export company Exportadora de Café California (ECC) in 2014 to combat the coffee rust crisis. Since then, 4,520 producers have benefited from the program. More than 5,300 hectares of coffee have been renovated, $11.2 million USD has been distributed in financing, and over $34 million has been invested in farm improvements.

Now more holistic in scope, NKG BLOOM offers customized service packages to producers. These may include financing, high-quality inputs, seedlings, agronomy and business training, information services, access to markets, and new coffee technologies.