Federacion Abades, Samaniego Lot 9 Washed

Abades is the name a region that covers three municipalities; Samaniego, Santacruz and Providencia. In total, there are over 3,200 farming families in this area; many of whom are descendants of the original Pasto, Quillacinga, Abade, and Sindagua peoples from this area. The mountainous geography of this region makes it both remote, and a central route through which coca and coffee are traded.

Federación Abades is perhaps the most serious coffee cooperative int his region. Representing 206 families, organized across 9 groups and into an 18 person General Assembly; yes, that means nearly 9% of members are representatives at the assembly level.

This group was first introduced to US specialty through the 2012 Borderlands fermentation project, following which their coffee was pre-sold every harvest for a number of years. They’ve grown slowly, by necessity. Each farmer has less than one hectare, but delivers cherry to the cooperative an average of 20 – 30 times each season. Each of these nano-deliveries are cupped and green graded to provide feedback to producers, and insight into lot separation for export. Their goal, as a group, is to change the reputation of their region from being known for war, to being known for great coffee, both internally and internationally.