Guatemalan Chajulense

Co-op

The Asociación Chajulense Va’l Vaq Qujol (ASOCHAJUL), now comprised of some 1,500 members, was founded in 1988 by some 40 coffee farmers of the Chajul Triángulo Ixil region of Quiché. The Chajulense people is a sect of Maya Ixil people who have made these mountains their home for thousands of years.

The Asociación Chajulense provided one of the few economic opportunities in Chajul after the end of civil war in 1996. It became the first fair trade, organic coffee association in Guatemala.

Productive Investment

The co-op promotes a sustainable development model that is environmentally sound, economically feasible, fair from a social point of view and appropriate from a cultural standpoint. Coffee farmers in the Co-op are certified organic or transitioning to organic farming.

This growing region is greatly affected by coffee rust, so in addition to their coffee sales, the organization has marketed other products such as cardamom, cheese, honey and handicrafts as a means to diversify their member families’ income. “La Posada,” an eco-lodge for tourists is run by members and local youth.

A minimum of 10% of proceeds from coffee sales is used by the Co-op Members for local infrastructure and economical development, such as creating a pharmacy, purchasing a corn mill and opening a small grocery store

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