Partnering with US Women in Coffee
If you know Covoya, you know that we believe that gender equity is essential to making coffee a true collaborative journey. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce a new partnership with U.S. Women in Coffee (USWIC), a chapter of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA), to further support our Café Delas initiative.
It quickly became clear that USWIC have similar goals to Covoya, especially as it relates to our Café Delas program. Both of us are committed to promoting women-produced coffees in hopes of facilitating new direct trade opportunities, supporting gender equity and building capacity for women-produced coffees in the US market.
Together, Covoya and USWIC will elevate the voices and work of women coffee producers through storytelling, educational outreach, and market engagement. We started this collaboration back in April at Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston with our panel, Real Solutions from women Across Coffee’s Value Chain, an event you can learn more about here.
Following the success of this event, it was my distinct honor to accept a role on the US Women in Coffee Board of Directors, along with my colleague Mark Inman. Our goal is to continue championing the women who shape the coffee industry from seed to cup.
What is Café Delas?
We are very proud of the Café Delas program and we have stories to tell. USWIC can help us spread the word not only among coffee roasters, but among potential participants in coffee-growing communities.
Café Delas is more than just a certification, it’s a movement. Every coffee in the program comes from farms owned and operated by women, who are recognized as the official business proprietors in all Covoya systems. Our sourcing practices ensure gender traceability, direct payment to farmers, and a 5-cent premium that goes back to the women in the form of cash, equipment, or training to improve both cup quality and farming practices.
Café Delas doesn’t stop at identifying women-led farms. We actively engage with women in coffee-growing communities, providing outreach and education to help them become decision-makers and leaders. Participation in the program requires that women have a voice in their communities and play a leadership role in their operations.
Originally launched in Brazil, Café Delas is now in its fifth year and expanding into new coffee-producing regions. With the support of USWIC, we’re excited to grow the program’s reach and impact even further.
What’s Next?
As part of this enhanced partnership, we’ll be offering new opportunities for connection, collaboration, and education. And we want to hear from you! What kinds of programming would you find most helpful or inspiring? Let us know by filling out this brief form.
Look out for more great stuff coming out of this new shared journey!
