Aromas del Valle Merly Leon G1 Washed Organic, ORG

Aromas del Valle is a young cooperative with leadership and membership largely in their 30s, bringing both energy and new perspectives. Under the guidance of General Manager Iván Cruz, the team has coordinated with Yasmin of the Progreso Foundation to deliver an integrated model of farmer support. This begins with seedlings—not just coffee, but native shade and fruit trees—and extends to organic farm inputs and processing materials such as resurfaced fermentation tanks. Progreso’s work with Aromas pairs management training, access to capital, and technical assistance to increase both yields and cup quality. Importantly, Yasmin also provides market-facing support, connecting the cooperative to importers and helping members align with international buyers.

At the same time, Aromas has built programs that go beyond agronomy. Administrator Eduardo oversees the Mestiza project, which works with twelve communities to challenge the cultural roots of machismo that limit women’s full participation in the coffee economy. Psychologists conduct home visits with families, while technical advisors provide on-farm guidance to women growers, reinforcing their role as both the foundation and the growth engine of the cooperative. By investing its own resources into Mestiza, Aromas has committed to a vision of social change that is inseparable from its agricultural progress.