WHERE COFFEE BEANS AND SUCCESS STORIES GROW.
It all began in Marcala/La Paz, Honduras, with four farmers and just 300 US dollars in startup capital. Not much to start a business with.
But Café Orgánico Marcala Sociedad Anónima, or COMSA for short, took on the challenge—with success. A U.S. trader recognized the quality of their high-grade coffee beans. Soon after, COMSA received Fairtrade certification and began producing organic Fairtrade coffee for Café Intención. The difficult start was quickly forgotten.
Thanks to fair wages, the cooperative can now also invest in the future of its members and their families—whether through training programs or education for children and young people. Additionally, COMSA reinvests in the environment. At the model farm "Finca Fortaleza," they develop organic pest control solutions and fertilizers with the goal of ensuring a sustainable and environmentally friendly harvest.
And if a harvest year doesn't go as planned, the organization is prepared: it enables its members to grow fruit and vegetables on their own farms so they can sustain themselves in difficult times.
The home of true coffee dedication.
From our own experience, we can confirm: The people working on Honduras’ coffee plantations radiate joy. They treat each other and visitors with warmth and hospitality. And they bring the same passion to their coffee. When they talk about cultivation, harvesting, and processing, it's clear how much dedication they pour into their work. Fairtrade coffee is more than just a secure source of income for them—it has transformed their lives for the better. This gratitude is felt by all the producers in Honduras.
Take Ronald Melghem, for example. He is always striving to improve the quality of his organic coffee. To do so, he constantly seeks new ideas and technologies. This passion for innovation runs alongside the daily routines of a family-run coffee farm. To keep everything running smoothly, each family member takes on a different role—whether in cultivation, harvesting, transport, quality control, marketing, or even organic fertilizer production. Everyone works together with a shared sense of responsibility and respect—for one another, for nature, and, of course, for coffee itself.
Women coffee producers on the rise.
Producing organic Fairtrade coffee in Honduras is also a unique opportunity for women. Maria Dolores Zelay and Joselinda Manueles seized their chance. Like many other women, they started with a small plot of land and advanced their skills through COMSA’s training programs. Today, they contribute to the cooperative as independent producers.
And, of course, they are also securing a better future for themselves. They pass on their independence and perseverance to their children. The younger generation quickly learns that they can achieve anything if they believe in themselves. Sons and daughters acquire essential skills and knowledge early on, as they are often introduced to coffee production from a young age. The future of coffee production in this region is already taking shape—driven by passion, teamwork, and a commitment to quality in every single coffee bean.