Farmers Project is a women-led team of farm-owners around the beautiful nation of Costa Rica. Their main objective is to build an equitable network of Direct Trade so they can shift the power back in the hands of the working class rather than the middle-men. This year, we’ve partnered with them to directly trade with Kathia Zamora’s Finca Cloza.

The "peace" you'll find at Finca Cloza is not one symbolized by doves & olive branches; it is, rather, symbolized by a smile. Behind the smiles, there is a peace of mind achieved by favorable working conditions, a living wage, and achieving Direct Trade, which is more than just quality coffee, it is how farms such as Finca Cloza can follow through on their farmer-focused commitments.

Of course, she couldn't achieve it alone. It's far too costly for small farms to achieve Direct Trade on their own, which pressures them to settle for unfavorable contracts. Farmers Project aims to change that.

This year, they're committed to raising money to expand their efforts in making education and daycare accessible for their workers who don't have the privilege of making arrangements while they work. This gives them further peace of mind and is a drop in the bucket compared to the kind of change we'd like to see in the coffee world.

• Variety: Caturra/Catuai
  Processing Method: Honey/washed
  Elevation: 3,800’
  Country: Costa Rica
  Region: El Rosario de Naranjo
  Farm name: Finca Cloza