In the previous post we learned what exactly a wet mill is.  We didn’t however talk about the real economic importance this makes for the livelihoods of farmers.  A quick example;  say you buy an average pound of coffee at your local cafe for $10, the farmer who grew the coffee will receive at most $1 of that money while doing the vast majority of the work in making it.  However, If the same farmer or family could process the coffee from the ripe cherry to “green” exportable coffee, he can roughly double the amount earned per pound.  This is not including added benefits of controlling the entire process in order to continually increase quality and receive even better money for the coffee. 

Santa Maria de Jesus needs a community coffee mill. 

With the continued growth of farmers interested in participating in La Armonia Hermosa, they need a larger facility to grow beyond the informal system that currently exists in processing the coffee locally.  Fundraising for this can only come from the generous donations and micro-loans of interested coffee drinkers in the states.  This project, from buying land to construction and equipment, will cost approximately $15,000. This will provide the needed capacity for at least 5 years of continued growth of farmer participation and exported coffee. We expect to fund the entire project by securing donations and micro-financed loans.  The hope is to have a fully operational mill ready for the 2010 harvest.  Construction is scheduled to begin this summer as long as the proper land is found to purchase and build on.  The entire project will be repaid by the farmers through their increased profits and sales, providing the capital for future micro-loans for the farmers and the community in the future. 

For more information about this project, donating or participating in the micro-loan program, please contact Les Stoneham at les@laarmoniahermosa.com.  Keep watching for updates as this project takes shape over the coming months.