In April 2026, members of the Fair Trade Department visited coffee producers in the San Fernando region of Chiapas, a state in southern Mexico.

During the Spanish colonial era in Mexico, indigenous people suffered discrimination and oppression for many years, living in dire social and economic conditions. This situation continued even after independence in 1821, and in 1994, with the entry into force of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and the influx of cheap agricultural products from overseas, the lives of people of indigenous descent who relied on agriculture for their livelihood became even more difficult.
Nevertheless, the people of the San Fernando region chose to continue organic farming and make a living through their own efforts. Even today, they produce coffee without relying on pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and they value protecting nature in order to continue living on their current land.

However, in recent years, rising prices caused by international conflicts and climate change have made it increasingly difficult to sustain a livelihood solely on income from coffee production. In the San Fernando region in particular, the burden of living expenses, especially food costs, is heavy, putting pressure on the lives of coffee producers. If this continues, there is a possibility that the ordinary way of life that has been carefully preserved in the region will no longer be sustainable.

In 2024, Zensho launched a fair trade initiative with a producers' cooperative in the San Fernando region, aiming to enable coffee producers to live independently. This initiative supports both production and livelihoods, enabling local people to continue organic farming and make a living in their land.

As part of its efforts to support production, the cooperative produces organic compost and cultivates coffee seedlings, which it then provides to producers. This not only reduces the financial burden of coffee production but also lessens the workload for producers. These efforts play a crucial role in ensuring that coffee production can continue in this region for the future.

Furthermore, as part of our efforts to support their livelihoods, we introduce poultry farming to the producers' families. The eggs produced in each family not only contribute to improving their family's nutrition but also provide them with supplementary income through sales at the market.

The coffee producers that the Fair Trade team members visited this time told us, "Producing coffee through organic farming requires a lot of effort and is by no means easy. However, we are very happy that the coffee in which we put our heart and soul is being sold in Japan."

Zensho will continue its efforts to support people's livelihoods by engaging in fair trade with coffee producers in the San Fernando region and protecting the land and natural environment through organic farming.