Guatemala: Santa Anita

SUSTAINABILITY FOR SANTA ANITA LA UNION

More commonly known as "Santa Anita" or "Maya Civil", La Association Civil Maya de Productores of Santa Anita is an organic coffee and banana cooperative located on Guatemala's Pacific slope between Quetzaltenango and Coatepegque. The association at Santa Anita is made up of thirty-two families of ex-combatants from the Guatemalan Revolutionary Unity or URNG.

Located at an altitude of approximately 1219 meters, Santa Anita is rated HB for hard bean coffee as opposed to SB or soft bean coffee that is grown at low altitudes. The cooperative has also been USDA Certified Organic since 2003 by Mayacert.

Rigoberto, vice-president of the board of directors for Santa Anita, summed up the impact of the organic certification in a few simple words, "The "organic" word equals what we call a better quality of life. A good quality life, you don't have it simply by eating better."

Santa Anita is a community with great drive and determination to grow in self-reliance, sustainability, and opportunity. Pura Vida is committed to assisting them in reaching these goals.

Pura Vida donated $4,000 and loaned $2,000 to Santa Anita in 2008. The funds were used to purchase a coffee-processing machine that will remove several steps from their production, significantly decreasing water loss and increasing production by 18%. Santa Anita produces about 20,000 pounds of coffee per year. At $2/pound for green coffee, Santa Anita's net income will increase at a minimum of $7,200/year going forward, directly increasing each of the 32 family's income. Furthermore, because of production increases and labor savings afforded by the machine, Santa Anita has additional income potential by processing coffee for neighboring farms.

The cooperative currently has a school that goes through the ninth grade. After that the students must travel to the local school at an exorbitant cost. These costs have deterred students in the past, but this year twenty students have begun attending classes each day. Tuition alone costs 250 Quetzal a month per child and in addition, the students must pay 200 Quetzal a month for transportation over the thirty kilometers to school. The total monthly cost of approximately 450 Quetzal or $64 per child represents nearly 70% of most families' monthly income.

In June, Pura Vida, through the sale of Bus Blend coffee and a generous donation, purchased a small bus. This vehicle will carry students to and from school allowing them to complete their education. The vehicle also is used to generate revenue by transporting goods for other farms. The first year, the community of Santa Anita will save a minimum of $5,600 simply by transporting the twenty students to and from school for the ten month school year. Revenues generated by transporting goods for others will not only cover the cost of fuel and maintenance but will create new income.

Santa Anita has spent the past two years developing an eco-tourism program that is run entirely by women of the cooperative. Pura Vida supports these efforts by bringing groups to the community. Andrea, the twenty-four year old leader of the program said, "It is a way for us to educate the world." The program is designed to not only bring additional income into the community but also to educate visitors on Guatemala and the value of Fair Trade and organic practices as they exist on the coffee farm.

In 2009, Pura Vida funded two new projects at Santa Anita; a new processing area and a computer center. The finca was in need of a new coffee processing area. to improve quality and decrease waste. Pura Vida stepped in with $3,800 to construct the new facility. The community was so effiecient with the funding that they were able to repave their broken drying patio as well.

In a joint effort between Pura Vida and a program at Tufts University called BUILD, the students at Tufts put together a proposal to construct a computer center for the community. Pura Vida provided $5,000 of the needed funds to complete the center. The computer center is equipped with six computers all connected to the internet. A small fee is charged to use the center which is used to maintain the facility. Not only is the center a great place for students to study but access to the internet provides the community with a connection to the world.

Learn more about the computer center project at Santa Anita