An initiative to support women coffee producers.

Women play a vital role, taking part in every stage of the supply chain but often handling the most time-consuming, most seasonal and lowest-paid tasks (like sowing, harvesting and sorting). Studies show that when women manage household income, there are many benefits: better child education, health, economic stability and overall family wellbeing.

For 10 years, we have been taking practical action to protect and develop forests through our Forest Coffees® brand

Forest Coffees® are ultra-high-quality coffees grown in well-preserved environments. Our trademark recognizes the know-how of local farmers and their in-depth knowledge of coffee agroforestry techniques. It illustrates the model’s environmental, social and economic merits.

Agroforestry allows farmers to diversify their income: agricultural production, timber and firewood, fodder, fruit, honey, etc. And thus reduce the vulnerability of the producer with less dependence on a single crop. The impact on biodiversity and soil quality is also considerable.

Fresh Coffee Clean Ocean: Our brand that guarantees you a decarbonized sea transport by 70 to 90% for your coffees.

Meeting El Maestro: Don Herbert Betancourt

In our sourcing approach in El Salvador, we found in Hacienda La Carrera a solid structure with a highly qualified cacao team, made up of agronomists, production and post-harvest managers.

The largest cacao plantation in El Salvador

<h3>A trusted partner in our Salvadoran cacao sourcing journey</h3>
In our cacao-sourcing work across El Salvador, we found in Hacienda La Carrera a true partner. The estate stands out for its strong infrastructure and highly skilled team — agronomists, production managers, and post-harvest specialists all dedicated to producing exceptional cacao.
With its modern fermentation and drying station, managed under strict quality protocols, Hacienda La Carrera ensures consistently high-grade cacao with clean, well-defined flavor profiles.&nbsp;
<h3>A strategic estate for Salvadoran cacao</h3>
Today, Hacienda La Carrera is the largest cacao plantation collaborating with Nahù in El Salvador. As a strategic ally during our first Salvadoran cacao import, the estate coordinated the collection and quality control of lots from four neighboring farms, helping strengthen the country’s fine-cacao value chain.
<h3>A passionate, expert-led team</h3>
Under the guidance of Jairo Vigil, an experienced cacao taster with a holistic vision of the crop, the estate integrates every stage — from cultivation to sensory evaluation of the finished product.
He is supported by Héctor García, quality manager and one of the most respected cacao tasters in El Salvador. Both are active members of the Mesa Nacional de Catadores de Cacao, a professional network trained at the National University of Peru that promotes quality improvement through sensory analysis and good-agricultural-practice sharing.
<h3>Innovation and heritage preservation</h3>
One of the plantation’s flagship projects is the creation of a fully equipped quality-control laboratory. The lab enables precise analysis of cacao beans and the small-scale production of cacao liquor and craft chocolate for research and development.
Under Héctor’s supervision, measurable progress has been achieved — better-defined flavor profiles, controlled fermentation, and consistent results across export lots.
<h3>A model plantation and a natural refuge</h3>
Beyond quality, Hacienda La Carrera is remarkable for its biodiversity and environmental stewardship. The plantation conserves heritage cacao varieties and century-old shade trees that sustain the local ecosystem.
This living forest also shelters native wildlife, including endangered spider monkeys and migratory birds. By combining agricultural precision with ecological balance, Hacienda La Carrera stands as a model of responsible, sustainable cacao production in El Salvador.&nbsp;

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El Salvador is a land of volcanoes. There are 23 throughout the country, 5 of which are active. The country has a surface area of 21,041 km², making it the smallest in Central America. It has an essentially mountainous topography, although the Pacific coast that runs down the side of the country is flat. Its highest point is El Pital, which stands at 2,730 metres. In terms of climate, it has a wet season, a dry season, and tropical weather all year round.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Customer services (data collection, marketing tools, quality control, training), operating costs (tax, salaries, rent, service charges) and net margin.

Customer services (data collection, marketing tools, quality control, training), operating costs (taxes, salaries, rent, overheads) and net margin.

Financing sourcing at origin and supporting our local subsidiaries. These enable us to support producers in adopting more resilient agricultural practices and to set up social and environmental projects.

Financing of sourcing activities at origin and of our local subsidiaries, enabling us to support producers in their transition toward more resilient agricultural practices and to implement social and environmental projects.

Insurance and transport from the production areas to the port of Le Havre, as well as coffee storage and financing costs.

Insurance and transportation from the production areas to the port of Le Havre, as well as storage and financing costs for the cacao.

Costs linked to the purchase of coffee, which remunerate all the players involved, from the producer to the exporter.

For coffees purchased at fixed prices, only storage and financing costs and the €/$ exchange rate will affect the price of coffee from one quarter to the next within the same crop.

For coffees bought at a differential price, the price fluctuates according to market trends, storage and financing costs and the €/$ exchange rate.

Costs related to the purchase of cacao that remunerate all the actors at origin, from the producer to the exporter.

For cacao purchased at a fixed price, only storage costs, financing costs, and the EUR/USD exchange rate will influence price variations from one quarter to another within the same crop.

For cacao purchased with a differential-based pricing model, the price fluctuates according to market movements, as well as storage costs, financing costs, and the EUR/USD exchange rate.

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