The Fondo Paez coop largely represents Colombia’s main indigenous group, the Nasa (meaning “the people”).     Caught in the middle of an ongoing civil war, the farmers of Fondo Paez are committed to nonviolence and remain neutral as the conflict continues sporadically throughout their land. Their struggle for peace guides these farmers as they work to retain their ancestral farming practices. In addition to cultivating coffee, the  farmers collect seeds and cultivate native beans and corn to provide a healthy diet for their families.  Higher Grounds has proudly purchased coffee from Fondo Paez for nearly two decades. This year, due to climate and supply chain issues also faced by so many other farmers globally, their crop was heavily reduced and a lot less volume was available. Yet the quality of coffee coming from Fondo Paez is spectacular, delighting us year after year. This year, the combination of lower supply and exceptional quality has meant that we are paying a higher price for this coffee and it has earned a spot in our top-tier Apex lineup. The quality is well worth it.

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Higher Grounds Coffee is Certified Organic, beyond fair trade, shade grown, arabica beans, roasted with love in small batches in Traverse City, Michigan by a B Corp.