Oaxaca to Host 2025 Coffee Convention to Boost Small Producers

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), in partnership with the Ministry of Agri-Food Development and Rural Development of Oaxaca (SEFADER), announced the second edition of the Oaxaca Coffee Convention. The event aims to recognize the contribution of coffee-growing communities across the state and promote direct trade and sustainability in the sector. 

According to Santiago Arguello, General Coordinator of Agricultural and Livestock Production, SADER, the convention supports national strategies to strengthen the specialty coffee segment and ensure producers gain greater value from their product. The initiative is part of Mexico’s broader plan to double national coffee production to 8 million sacks, while ensuring fair and sustainable incomes for farming families. Arguello emphasized the need for greater traceability and transparency throughout the supply chain and highlighted the importance of fair reference prices.

In 2024, more than 205,000 coffee producers benefited from the Production for Well-Being program, including over 26,000 in Oaxaca. Additionally, the Fertilizers for Well-Being program supported over 161,000 coffee producers nationwide, with 17,000 located in Oaxaca.

Efforts are also underway to renew coffee plantations through a national plan developed with the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research (INIFAP). The program includes distribution of improved seed varieties resistant to rust and adapted to climate change.

Víctor López, Oaxaca’s Secretary of Agri-Food Development and Rural Development, noted that coffee remains the main source of income for many Indigenous communities in the state. More than 700 microlots will be exhibited and sold during the convention, with participation from over 30 coffee bars from Oaxaca and Mexico City. Producers in Oaxaca prioritize shade-grown coffee due to its environmental benefits, said López, stressing that unsustainable practices are not supported.

Hilda Hernández, Oaxaca’s state coordinator for the Technical Support Program, said 5,079 producers are currently being trained through 171 Field Schools. These focus on producing healthy, genetically strong plants, soil nutrition, and crop diversification strategies.

The 2025 convention will include conferences, panel discussions, cultural events, coffee tastings, and sales. A key feature will be an auction of the state’s highest-rated specialty coffees, aimed at strengthening the value chain and promoting direct sales between producers and buyers.