Quality of Life at Selva Negra

Selva Negra is a very successful estate for many reasons, but mostly for its high quality standards in all we do. This does not end with the quality of the coffee and its processing, or with the quality of the environment with all its sustainable implications, but extends to the quality of life of those that live in the estate.

Fair Trade is an issue in the coffee industry, because of the difficulty many times in ensuring a good price for the crop, this leads to substandard wages and humanitarian implications. Fair Trade is a certification provided mostly to co-ops which are a conglomerate of multiple small farms. The certification ensures that a fair price is paid for the crop to ensure a certain level of standard of life. Selva Negra is not Fair Trade certified, since it is a medium sized independently owned farm, it isn't available as an option. The quality of life of all the workers at Selva Negra is very comfortable and significantly above average of many coffee estates. Selva Negra houses approximately 400 individuals during the year, and during the harvest season this number almost doubles with migrant workers.

The employee benefits at Selva Negra include:

• Housing
• Schooling
• On-site clinic
• Sponsored baseball teams
• Other Events
• Christmas party
• On-site convenience store
• Training and conferences

The farm has good working conditions, it provides for the workers good housing system (this means concrete houses, with concrete or tiled floor, kitchen with chimney and washing place, etc.), elementary school for workers kids, and a scholarship program for those who want to continue education. Two baseball teams (one for adults and one for young kids), a health clinic with a full time nurse and medicine supplies, women health and birth control programs, garbage disposal system, transportation, electricity, and food supplies for those who work at the farm. There is also a basic supplies store that sells at wholesale prices basic needs (such as beans, corn, oil, baby stuff, clothing, eggs, meat, flour, etc.). These are some of the special working conditions for the personnel at the farm.

We do not participate on any Fair Trade programs as they are oriented toward cooperatives and small farming groups.

Selva Negra Coffee Estate

KM 140 Carretera a Jinotega Matagalpa, Nicaragua 011-505-772-3883

coffeeinfo@selvanegra.com