How blackberry farmers drive development in a small Guatemalan town

Although farmers in Guatemala primarily grow staple crops such as maize or beans, the country’s fertile soil and temperate climate have made it an ideal growing environment for blackberries as well.  Last year Guatemala was the second-largest exporter of blackberries to the U.S.  However, growing blackberries and making a living from blackberries are two very different propositions.

A successful berry business requires coolers for storage, efficient transportation, year-round supply and contacts with wholesale buyers.  Farmers with just an acre or two of land aren’t viable players in this competitive market. But when they band together the calculus changes.

​Flor de Mora is a 15-year old blackberry cooperative that started with 20 indigenous blackberry farmers from the small town of San José Poaquil in the Chimaltenango department who came together to improve their outcomes in the market. 95% of their town’s population of 20,000 belong to the Maya-Kaqchikel group, speak the Kaqchikel language, and rely on agriculture for their livelihood. However, 65% of the residents live in poverty as distance, low literacy levels and a history of military repression have made it difficult for farmers to access markets and for the town to invite industry.

​Flor de Mora manages a collection center in the community where they run quality control checks, pack the berries, and store berries in a cold room until ready for shipment.  With the pooled resources of the cooperative, Flor de Mora blackberries are reaching buyers in Guatemala City and as far away as the United States. 

Flor de Mora has grown its membership to 100 Maya Kaqchikel families who are paid weekly for their regular deliveries to the collection center. The enterprise also generates part-time jobs for youth who assist with collection and packing. While other Guatemalan towns are losing their young people to the city and emigration, San José Poaquil remains vibrant and hopeful.

Reciprocity Fund extended a $60,000 loan to enable the cooperative to buy packaging in bulk and to promptly pay the indigenous families that grow and harvest the berries.