Connecting Communities, Honduras

New Harvest Coffee Roasters values relationships. We believe it is so important to connect coffee communities, to provide transparency and trace-ability, to honor every person that brings coffee from seed to cup. Our direct trade program, Source Direct, is our way of creating long-lasting and meaningful relationship with the people who produce our coffee.

One of our longest partnerships is with COMSA, a cooperative in Honduras. COMSA (Café Orgánica Marcala S.A.) Cooperative was founded in 2001 in Marcala in the La Paz region with 69 original members and the desire to create resources for the small coffee farmer. In 2018, there are now 1,200 members, all dedicated to COMSA’s organic practices and community values. COMSA is always innovating, using alternative farming methods and education ranging from individual fertilizers customized for each farmer to their Diplomado Organico program, launched in 2016, which educates producers on their role as small organic farmers in their community.

After 12 years of partnership, New Harvest and COMSA continue to strengthen our Source Direct relationship with yearly visits. This year our coffee educator, Sophie, joined COMSA for the grand opening of their newest venture, Juntos Limpiamos Marcala, a program that sorts waste into various recyclables, organic waste, and non-organic waste. The recyclables are sorted thoroughly and upcycled while the organic waste is composted and used by COMSA’s extensive fertilizer program. Non-organic matter that cannot be composted will be incinerated safely and heat the water for nearby hotels and the COMSA International School’s children’s pool.

The COMSA International School provides the children of COMSA members and other residents of Marcala with immersive education and a wide range of studies. Students are taught an array of core studies and foreign languages, including German, French, English and Japanese, as well as extracurriculars such as music. COMSA’s genuine care and passion for their community is outstanding. The support for each other and the Marcala community at large is what separates COMSA from the crowd.

During her visit, Sophie selected one of our newest Single Origin offerings, Bicicleta. At origin, tasting coffee is immersive and expansive. Over three days, the team tasted over three hundred coffees but from that three hundred emerged Oscar Omar Alonzo’s honey-processed micro-lot. We’ve worked with Oscar in the past and love his work. (Use coupon code FINCA for a discount on Oscar's coffee!) His farm Finca cual Bicicleta sits high above Marcala at 1581 msl, overlooking gorgeous views of the surrounding mountainside but it’s not just the altitude that makes his coffees shine. Oscar’s farm is entirely organic and carefully curated throughout the year. This is his livelihood and his passion and it shows.

So next time you’re at the roastery or visiting us online (right now!) pick up a bag of Oscar’s coffee and see for yourself!