Innovation

For Kali coffee roasters it's very important to be able to add value to the coffee production itself, respecting the process required to make coffee. This is what makes the difference between Kali Coffee Roasters and other coffee brands. Workers are deeply appreciated, as well as their families. By maintaining the right prices throughout the whole production and distribution processes, we can ensure those working communities get enough profits.

Kali coffee roasters lead an agricultural cooperative where more than 9000 producers are supported with training to carry out good agricultural practices, materials for their fields as well as seeds and fertilizer. They also provide with other sources of work for these communities and help in the education of the kids of the community.

Inspiration

In 2011 a very strong plague hit the state of Chiapas, Mexico, which affected the coffee fields of that region and ended with almost 85% of the coffee production that year. The region, which was economically dependent on this activity, was deeply affected. A group of people concerned about this situation and with a great sense of social responsibility created a coffee farm, called La Fortaleza, which was the first plantation of what would become Kali Coffee Roasters.

This new company has in its practices the statutes of good practice of Rainforest Alliance. They began to give courses to all producers in the region to revive the economy, and to ensure that a coffee loss of such magnitude did not happen again. This project started several years ago, however the trademark was launched just a year ago, in order to publicize all this work that comes with producing coffee, Kali Coffee Roasters.

Overall impact

The company's mission is to position Mexican coffee at the level of large coffee producers such as Colombia, Guatemala, etc.

The goal is to exalt Mexican coffee and make 100% quality Mexican coffee known.

Mexico is recognized for its good coffee, but it does not have a very good reputation internationally, for political issues and international customer relations. All the innovations work toward the goals of being at the same level as the other recognized coffee producing countries. This company works with farms, which have Rainforest Alliance certification. The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-governmental organization that works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods. The three pillars of sustainability that manages this certification are the social, environmental and economic area.

All these farms are obliged to comply with specific policies which include, not to use pesticides, not to pollute or damage the ecosystem, they have to protect the region, they can't cut down trees, there can't be hunting in there farms, and they must respect the flora and fauna of the surroundings. Rainforest Alliance Certified ™ farms are constantly audited to verify that they comply with the regulations required for such certification. The Standard is based on these important principles of sustainable agriculture: Conservation of Biodiversity, improvement of livelihoods and human well-being, and conservation of natural resources.

Business benefit

Kali's business model promotes adding value throughout the coffee value chain, which means that when it reaches the final consumer, it receives a quality product that is sold at a fair price. Thanks to this, Kali can continue efforts to publicize good Mexican coffee in the world while promoting socially responsible practices.

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Social and environmental benefit

With this innovation Kali has created new jobs, and not only that, well-paid jobs that help the community in which they operate. Since they are certified by the Rainforest Alliance, the salaries must be higher than the average for the locality, this means that the people who work the field are well paid for their work or that the baristas of the cafeteria are the best paid of all Monterrey.

On the other hand, the agricultural practices to which Kali is subject promote the good use of the land, respecting the natural cycles and without using pesticides that are harmful to the environment. In addition to this, the care of other flora and fauna of the region is promoted to have a positive impact on the area in which they operate.

Interview

Juan Carlos Garcia, Founder in Monterrey

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