Single-Origin Spotlight: Guatemala Coffee, Bees & Community

Every bag of Sum>One coffee tells a story — not just about flavor, but about the people, the land, and the choices that shape what ends up in your cup.

Our partnership with two remarkable farmer-led associations in Guatemala’s Huehuetenango region is one of the stories we’re proudest to tell. Together, AAPICUC (Asociación de Apicultores y Caficultores de Unión Cantinil) and AAPICAFI (Asociación de Apicultores y Caficultores) represent more than 418 coffee-growing families who are proving that great coffee, healthy ecosystems, and thriving communities aren’t competing priorities — they’re part of the same goal. Together, we created two coffees in our portfolio that share the same commitment: Postcard and Open Mic

Born Out of Necessity, Built on Vision

Both associations were born from a shared reality: small coffee producers in Unión Cantinil, Huehuetenango, were struggling with volatile international market prices and the growing impact of climate change on their crops. Selling coffee meant accepting unstable prices and uncertain income. Something had to change.

AAPICUC took root first, founded in 2011 as a collective initiative of local coffee growers. Seven years later, in 2018, it was formally established with 43 founding members. Today, the association has grown to 218 members — 181 men and 37 women — all committed to a model of sustainability and self-management that benefits their communities.

AAPICAFI followed in June 2013, when 37 visionary coffee growers came together with a clear objective: to create an organization that would generate added value, provide access to new markets, and ensure fair conditions for producer families. That founding group has since grown to more than 200 members — 145 men and 55 women — across six municipalities in Huehuetenango.

What makes these associations distinctive isn’t just coffee — it’s the integration of beekeeping into their farming model. Both organizations embody the union of two passions: coffee cultivation and apiculture. Bees pollinate plants, support biodiversity, and contribute to the vitality of the land. By weaving beekeeping into their operations, these producers don’t just grow coffee — they nurture the ecosystem that makes great coffee possible.

“When coffee growers work hand in hand with nature and one another, extraordinary results follow.”

Where It Grows: The Highlands of Huehuetenango

Huehuetenango is renowned for its mountainous terrain and high elevations — conditions that produce some of Guatemala’s most sought-after specialty coffee. AAPICUC farms at elevations between 1,400 and 1,900 meters, while AAPICAFI’s producers work between 1,400 and 2,000 meters. At these altitudes, cool temperatures and rich soils slow the maturation of coffee cherries, concentrating sugars and developing the complex flavor profiles that make high-grown coffee so distinctive.

The People Behind Your Cup

Numbers tell part of the story, but the real impact shows up in the lives of individual producers. Here are a few of the people whose work goes into every cup of Sum>One Guatemala coffee.

Asbel Díaz — A Young Farmer’s Foundation

Asbel Ovidio Díaz Velásquez is a 30-year-old coffee producer from Buenos Aires, Unión Cantinil. Coffee farming is his primary livelihood and the main source of income for his family. As a member of AAPICUC, the association has strengthened his technical knowledge, productive skills, and long-term vision.

Through coffee production and the support of AAPICUC, Asbel has achieved greater economic stability, allowing him to meet his family’s needs and improve their overall well-being. The association has also reinforced important values: teamwork, solidarity, and a commitment to sustainable coffee farming. For him, coffee is more than a crop — it’s a way of life, a cultural heritage, and a path to personal and family growth.

Marcela Velásquez — A Mother’s Resilience

Marcela Fulgencia Velásquez Escobedo is a 64-year-old coffee producer from San José, Unión Cantinil. She is married, a mother of four, and an active member of AAPICUC. Marcela plays an important part in her family’s coffee production, contributing to coffee selection, processing, and household financial management.

Despite high production costs and ongoing challenges, coffee farming remains a vital source of income. It has improved food security and helped cover healthcare expenses. Through her dedication, family teamwork, and the support she receives as a member of AAPICUC, Marcela has sustained coffee farming as a reliable livelihood.

Don Luis Ramírez — From Solitary Work to Community

Before joining AAPICAFI, coffee farming was a solitary effort for Don Luis Ramírez. Working the land meant long days with limited access to shared knowledge or support. Becoming part of the association changed that experience entirely. Through AAPICAFI, Don Luis found a strong sense of community where neighbors became collaborators, and challenges were faced together rather than alone.

Training sessions, collective decision-making, and shared goals helped strengthen not only coffee quality, but also the social ties within the community. Today, being part of the association means belonging to a network built on trust, cooperation, and mutual respect.

Don German — Fifty Years of Coffee, Now a Legacy

Being part of AAPICAFI has given producers not only technical knowledge but hope for the next generation. Through education programs and long-term vision, the association encourages producers to see coffee farming as a dignified and viable future for their families.

After 50 years working with coffee, Don German now feels empowered to pass on skills, values, and pride in his work to his children. What once felt like survival farming has become a legacy.

“What once felt like survival farming has become a legacy — rooted in sustainability, education, and respect for the land.”

Championing Women in Coffee

Both associations have made gender equity a core organizational value, actively promoting fair work practices and encouraging women to take on not only farming roles, but also leadership positions.

AAPICAFI champions gender equality through educational workshops that empower women in agronomy, quality control, governance, and financial management. With 55 women among its 200 members, the association has created a ripple effect of growth and opportunity that extends far beyond the farm. AAPICUC has also seen a notable increase in the participation of women producers, with 37 women now among its 218 members, supporting inclusive and sustainable development across the region.

Marcela Velásquez’s story illustrates why this matters. At 64, she’s not only supporting her family through coffee — she’s demonstrating to her community that women play a vital and visible role in every stage of production, from the field to the financials.

In an industry where women have historically been underrepresented in leadership, the intentional efforts of both AAPICUC and AAPICAFI stand out as a model for what equitable partnership can look like in specialty coffee.

Women coffee producers empowered through AAPICAFI and AAPICUC’s gender equity programs in Guatemala

From Survival to Stability

For many of these farming families, the transformation has been both economic and social. Before joining the associations, selling coffee meant accepting unstable prices and uncertain income. The associations changed that equation by improving production practices, raising quality standards, and connecting producers with buyers who value transparency and origin.

This stability allows producers to invest back in their farms, improve living conditions, and plan with greater confidence. AAPICUC and AAPICAFI have helped transform coffee from a daily struggle into a sustainable livelihood — one that supports food security, healthcare, education, and long-term family well-being.

Creating Community Through Coffee

Partnerships like this are at the heart of Sum>One. The name reflects a simple idea: the combined efforts of growers, roasters, and customers create something greater than any one person could alone.

When you choose Sum>One coffee sourced from AAPICUC and AAPICAFI, you’re not just buying a bag of beans. You’re supporting organic farming practices, Fair Trade community programs, women’s empowerment, generational knowledge transfer, and a model of agriculture where coffee and nature thrive together.

Explore our Guatemala offerings – Postcard and Open Mic and the full list of Sum>One partnerships to learn more about the people and places behind every cup.