USDA's Visit to the Coffee Region of Puebla, Mexico

From August 19th to 21st, 2024, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) delegation, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, conducted a visit to the coffee-growing region of Sierra Nororiental and Sierra Norte of Puebla. This tour aimed to deepen the understanding of coffee cultivation and processing practices, as well as the challenges and opportunities faced by the coffee sector in Mexico.

The first day of activities began with a detailed presentation on ECOM and AMSA, highlighting its role in managing supply chains and implementing sustainable development projects. A coffee reception and a demonstration of quality control processes were held at the AMSA branch in Zacapoaxtla, which included a tasting of representative coffees from the region. The day concluded with a comprehensive analysis of the current prospects as well as current challenges of the coffee sector in Mexico, providing a clear picture of the difficulties faced by local producers.

On the second day, the delegation traveled to Zapotitlán de Méndez, where they visited the La Presa Nursery, exploring innovations in the production of improved variety plants in a technologically advanced nursery using Biopot technology and traditional bags. Visits were also made to the farm of producer Mario Alberto Aco in Xochitlán de Vicente Suárez and the Paso Viejo farm in Zongozotla, Puebla, both operating under C.A.F.E. Practices’ standards. During the visit, topics such as productivity, environmental care, and quality were highlighted in addition to advancements in sustainable agronomic practices. The importance of innovation through improved varieties, such as Marsellesa, and emerging hybrids to address productivity challenges and climate change in Mexico’s coffee-growing areas was emphasized. The tour provided an extensive overview of coffee cultivation in the country, contrasting farms with limited, intermediate, and high productivity management, showcasing both the numerous future challenges yet to be faced and the promising solutions that are in development.

The day continued with a visit to the AMSA branch in Zongozotla, where the "Cultivating Better Lives" kiosk was presented, designed to improve the living conditions of local producers. Leading producers participated during this visit, emphasizing the importance of continuing to innovate in coffee production and the relevance of diversification programs, such as the corn-coffee project. Additionally, an overview of advances in AMSA projects was provided, highlighting key strategic clients and focusing on AMSA's plants and technical assistance programs, which have significantly contributed to improving productivity.

To close the activities, a tour of the high-quality coffee processing facilities in Huitzilan de Serdán was conducted, where a dialogue was held with producers who have been previous finalists in prestigious competitions such as Cup of Excellence, the Pride of Puebla, and YARA Champion Program. In this meeting, topics affecting producers were discussed, such as labor shortages, generational change, coffee profitability, market prices, and productivity levels. The positive impact achieved by producers who create differentiated coffees, such as the winners of the Cup of Excellence, was also acknowledged.

In addition to the field tour, a meeting was held at the WTC in Mexico City with Morgan Urich, Environmental Advisor of the USDA. In this meeting, strategies and sustainable projects that ECOM are currently working on in Mexico were presented, along with issues related to coffee cultivation. The aim was to explore how the USDA could contribute as an ally in addressing producers' needs in terms of productivity, quality, and climate change. Future meetings are expected to strengthen partnerships and advance these initiatives.

Overall, this visit provided a deeper understanding of the practices, challenges, and opportunities in the coffee sector in Mexico. Each stage of the tour, from management and quality control in warehouses, to innovations in farms and nurseries, offered valuable lessons on improving the sustainability and quality of Mexican coffee. This exchange of knowledge and experiences promises to have a positive impact on the future of coffee in the region.