At Peace Coffee, our dedication to uplifting both our local community and farming communities around the world is deeply rooted in our core values, which is why we donate 1% of purchases made online to one of four organizations of your choice at no extra cost to you. And for Earth Month, we’re doubling that commitment to 2%!

One of those organizations is Food 4 Farmers, which was founded in 2011 to address food insecurity in coffee farming communities during what are called “thin months,” which is a period lasting 5-8 months each year when their coffee income runs out before the next harvest. Volatile coffee prices, rising costs of sustainable farming, climate change, and limited access to nutritious food contribute to persistent food insecurity, making it difficult for these families to consistently put healthy meals on the table.

Their mission is clear: ensure coffee-farming families can access nutritious food year-round, transforming seasonal vulnerability into long-term resilience.

How Food 4 Farmers Makes a Difference

The Villa Linda community of women sell their homegrown produce at ACODIHUE's Community Food Exchange

Food 4 Farmers combats food insecurity through community-driven programs that build sustainable local food systems, diversify income streams, and encourage environmentally friendly farming practices. Their approach includes:

Home Gardens:

• Enabling families to grow their own nutritious produce, decreasing food insecurity. Currently, 620 active home gardens that provide year-round access to healthy food are being managed by coffee-farming families.

Beekeeping:

• Generating additional income through honey sales while enhancing pollination and biodiversity. Bees play a crucial role in pollinating coffee plants, resulting in higher yields and improved quality of coffee crops—and honey also is a great substitute for processed sugar, which helps nutrition!

Agroforestry:

• Integrating beneficial trees into coffee farms, improving soil health, protecting against climate variability, and providing new sources of income through fruits and timber. So far, Food 4 Farmers has helped distribute and plant nearly 38,000 trees in coffee-farming communities, substantially contributing to both food security and ecological health!

A Story of Change: Alcides Hurtado at Campo Bello

Alcides Hurtado, 70, coffee farmer

At 70 years old, Alcides Hurtado embodies a lifelong commitment to his family, community, and farm in the remote village of San Jose Piendamo, Cauca, Colombia. For 13 years, he and his wife, Maria Mercedes, have been members of the COMEPCAFE cooperative, which supports over 1,400 predominantly Indigenous and Afro-Colombian families. Their 9-hectare farm, “Campo Bello”, has not only been a source of coffee but also a platform for transformation. 

When Food 4 Farmers partnered with COMEPCAFE to rebuild local food systems, Alcides’ eagerness to learn and share made him a natural leader. Already practicing agroecological methods, he embraced new training and turned Campo Bello into a demonstration farm for sustainable practices and traditional crops.

Alcides built a thriving home garden that now produces bananas, avocados, citrus, tubers, and more—providing food security for his family of seven and enough surplus to sell. In 2023, when COMEPCAFE launched the Solidarity Market to connect member farms with local buyers, Alcides was one of the first to join, earning an average of $267 per month in extra income, which helps cover household essentials and fuels continued investment in his farm.

Alcides now shares what he’s learned with other farmers, strengthening food sovereignty and income diversification across the region. Campo Bello serves as an inspiring example, encouraging neighboring farms to embrace similar sustainable practices.

Do Your Part This Earth Month

We invite you to be part of this positive change. From now until April 22 (Earth Day), every purchase on our website can directly help Food 4 Farmers with their goal of funding a season of vegetables for 70 coffee farmers!

To learn more about them, head to their website and be sure to give them a follow on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with their initiatives!

Together, we can end hunger in communities around the world. Join us in growing a healthier future for coffee farmers!