In the fertile highlands of Terrazu, Costa Rica, where coffee plants line the hillsides, a new women’s coffee farming cooperative is taking root: ASOMIC (Asociación de Mujeres en Café). Formed just a year and a half ago, ASOMIC is a women-led association working to reshape the coffee industry from the ground up, and is comprised of 35 of the highest skilled women coffee farmers in the region—some who own their farms, others who manage family plots, and all of whom share a powerful vision: to promote gender equity, economic independence, and leadership for women in coffee production. Their dream to form an association blossomed from workshops, trainings, and skills-building conference opportunities organized by local NGO, Bean Voyage. WECO sat down with a few representatives from ASOMIC, to discuss how they came together, how they are navigating the challenges of farming and selling coffee on their own, and how they are working to identify shared needs and build collective solutions.
ASOMIC members are involved in every stage of coffee production—from planting and harvesting to processing, roasting, packaging, and even export. And, they’re committed to doing it better, together. During their first year, the members focused on capacity building, through workshops and technical trainings on coffee fermentation, flavor development, and cupping (the art of tasting coffee). Members attended a workshop at CATIE University (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza), where they learned how to prepare export-quality samples and evaluate their beans—an essential step for thriving in global markets. In addition, the cooperative members are exploring new fermentation techniques to create distinct flavor profiles and boost the value of their beans in the specialty market. Through an innovative approach to zero-waste farming, they make use of coffee waste by turning it into fuel pellets and animal feed.
ASOMIC is comprised of women farmers who operate small, individual coffee businesses and pool their resources and expertise to access shared roasting, packaging, and marketing infrastructure. Many members are already exporting their beans, and rely on one member to handle the roasting process for the entire group—providing a streamlined micro-business model that keeps more value in the hands of the producers themselves. Their goal is to build a central office and cupping lab where members can refine their coffee, host tastings, share equipment, and receive ongoing training. They all pay dues into the association and are committed to making it financially sustainable through both membership contributions and developing new, innovative income streams.
Since coffee farming is seasonal, income diversification is extremely important. ASOMIC members understand how relying on one harvest a year isn’t enough to sustain them, and they are always exploring new opportunities to expand into agritourism, gardening, and other farming ventures. In the future, they envision hosting visitors and buyers who can experience their process firsthand, building trust and helping to increase the perceived value of their beans. Long-term, they are striving to create a model that supports the next generation of women in coffee, offering a clear roadmap to navigate their coffee businesses, improve coffee quality, and increase the cooperative’s profits.
ASOMIC has made incredible progress so far without government funding, outside grants, or institutional support. Their entire journey has been self-directed—focused on strategic development, building infrastructure, and strengthening their network. They have also been deepening their collaborations with organizations like WECO and Bean Voyage, to help develop future partnerships and create a self-sustaining model for women’s empowerment through coffee. Moving forward, WECO will be working with ASOMIC and Bean Voyage to help their 5-year vision become a reality—so they can reach more women coffee producers; expand their processing and packaging capacity; and scale their agritourism and training opportunities.
We hope you will join us in supporting these amazing women! ASOMIC is more than a coffee cooperative; it is a collaborative, regenerative model that uplifts women, strengthens rural economies, and nurtures sustainable farming.
