Café Orgánico Marcala S.A. (COMSA) formed in 2001 with 60 farmers (12 women and 48 men,) initially using the name FUNDER (Fundación para el Desarrollo Empresarial Rural.) The founding mission of this organization remains the same today: to empower small farmers in the department of La Paz, Honduras to earn a dependable income through sound business and sustainable agricultural practices. Organic farming is at the heart of COMSA’s core values, consistent with their holistic vision: “To be a competitive company, viable and known for quality coffee, managed with total transparency, gender equality and harmony with nature contributing to the improvement of living conditions of our members and their families.”

Marcala is located in Honduras’ Montecillos mountain range, and was the world’s fi rst registered coffee Denomination of Origin. Producers in Marcala prepare to plant in a unique way and they also harvest in a unique manner, introducing a selection method at the  picking stage. For many years the quality of Marcala coffee was unsurpassed in Honduras, and COMSA’s members carry that pride through every step of the process. In 2010, COMSA began promoting coffees from a select few members as “microlots,” identifying the best qualities from the peak of the harvest and adding a new level of quality and traceability to their product. Marcala coffees have a character unique in Honduras. COMSA’s SHG EP type retains some of this sophisticated character, with green apple, honey, pear and maple also commonly found in the cup. COMSA’s incredible commitment to sustainable organic farming and producer education, their Fair Trade and Organic certifications, terrific quality and availability of microlots make them one of our favorite suppliers to work with.