Central and South America

The high mountains and humid rainforests of Central and South America provide the perfect climate for growing coffee. We source our beans from across the continent, from southern Mexico, through the central regions to Colombia, Peru and the high plateaus of Brazil.

Brazil

Today, most of the world’s coffee comes from Brazil; favored for its mild acidity, smoothness and bittersweet chocolate notes. We are among the country’s largest coffee exporters, with extensive integrated processing capabilities and expertise on the ground, to supply roasters around the world.

Colombia

Known for its rich, mild flavor, today experts consider Colombian coffee among the best in the world. Our on-the-ground presence in Colombia is supported by three coffee mills and a network of buying offices. We offer most coffee varieties and qualities, including regional specialties like Medellín, Huila, and Tolima.

Guatemala

Guatemala is the tenth largest coffee origin in the world, blessed with over 300 microclimates, rich volcanic soil and a long artisanal tradition of coffee production. ofi is one of the country’s top 4 exporters with an upstream buying model that allows us to directly source micro lots from individual farmers that we know personally, for a fully traceable, specialty cup.

Honduras

The coffee from the Central American coffee powerhouse Honduras, is known for its smooth, sweet flavor. Our agronomy and buying experts source from over 800 farmers and cooperatives to offer a full range of popular arabica varieties, as well as specialty coffees from areas like Marcala and San Marco.

Mexico

Coffee did not arrive in Mexico until the late 18th century, but today the country is one of the world’s largest producing origins, with a lot to offer. Distinctive and fruity profiles, a positive social and environmental impact, and a rich coffee-producing heritage. Our team of 38 agronomy and buying experts work with over 100 cooperatives and farmer groups to source mainstream and specialty coffees. Our origination capabilities have been enhanced by establishing two coffee mills supported by seven buying units.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s rich volcanic soils, tropical climate and mountainous regions provide the perfect ground for high-grade coffee. As a top three exporter, ofi brings Nicaragua’s certified and specialty arabicas to roasters worldwide, supporting over 2,000 farmers and their families who grow the crop on their small farms, amongst native and exotic fruit trees.

Pile of red coffee beans with sky background

Peru

For much of Peru’s coffee history, its beans have mostly been enjoyed locally. Today the country is one of the highest certified coffee distributors in the world, with many growers that were once limited by poor infrastructure, now getting the chance to let their coffees shine on the international market. ofi’s agronomy team work with over 5,000 producers on improved cultivation and processing techniques to raise yields and quality.

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Press Release Dec 19, 2024

ofi's cocoa business ‘raises regenerative agriculture ambition’ with new 2030 targets

ofi (olam food ingredients), a global leader in naturally good food and beverage ingredients and food solutions, is further enhancing efforts to tackle deforestation and drive regenerative agriculture by achieving seven landscape partnerships and bringing over a million hectares under regenerative agriculture by 2030.

These new targets align with ofi’s company-wide Choices for Change strategy and will be further boosted by the cocoa business’ tree carbon stock target of 15 million trees by 2030, converting as many farms as possible to agroforestry.

This announcement coincides with the release of ofi’s 2023 Cocoa Compass Impact Report, which shares the latest sustainability progress from across its cocoa supply chain and builds on the steps taken to protect and restore cocoa landscapes.

Regenerative agriculture highlights since the launch of the Cocoa Compass in 2018 include:

8.9 million trees distributed for agroforestry programs by ofi cocoa, working with customers and partners
57,000 hectares of land rehabilitated globally
970,000 farmers trained in Good Agricultural Practices

Articles Dec 5, 2024

Partnerships for more inclusive coffee communities

Promoting gender equality and inclusion has always been a core component of ofi’s sustainability programs to help women and other underrepresented groups realize their potential. Our approach is centred around identifying opportunities for better inclusion of women and youth in farming communities and providing tailored support designed to build confidence, motivation and financial autonomy.

This is why, as part of our Coffee LENS ambition we’ve set dedicated targets to deliver livelihood support to 60,000 women and 15,000 youth by 2030. Our origin teams are running impactful partnerships with our customers to create positive change in coffee communities and deliver our mutual goals.

Articles Dec 5, 2024

A living landscape partnership promoting sustainable forest management in Côte d’Ivoire

The Cavally region in Côte d’Ivoire, one of the country’s main forested areas and home to protected areas such as the Taï National Park (UNESCO), has lost more than 80% of its forest cover in the last decades which has been mainly attributed to coffee and cocoa production. In January 2023, ofi launched a three-year ‘Sustainable Forest Management’ program with IDH and customer JDE Peets, to conserve forest resources and promote sustainable coffee production in the region, referred to as the “ecological lung of Côte d’Ivoire” by the 4th vice-president of the Cavally Regional Council. At a time when coffee production is reviving in the region in response to higher global prices, the partnership is working to reduce pressure on the Taï National Park and Cavally nature reserve while improving incomes in the surrounding communities.

“At JDE Peet’s, we are committed to fostering a sustainable future for coffee by embracing origin diversity and strengthening our footprint in Africa. This project in the Cavally region is a significant step towards protecting vital ecosystems like the Taï National Park while promoting sustainable coffee production. By working together with our partners, we aim to create an environment where both nature and communities can thrive for generations to come.” - Judith de Boer, Global Green Coffee Partnership Program Lead, JDE Peet’s

The partnership is focused on sustainable agricultural production and social inclusion and in its first year delivered:

25,000 shade trees to mark farm boundaries, reforestation and creation of agroforestry systems.
Training to ~3,400 farmers on good agricultural practices integrated farm management, water protection, ecosystem conservation, and forest protection through 18 ‘trained trainers’
52 forest stewards from trained youths to contribute to the protection and preservation of the classified forest through patrols
Entrepreneurial opportunities for 750 women through establishing 20 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) and training on creating biochar from cherry husks for additional income and firewood replacement
950,000 coffee saplings distributed to 2,800 farmers to contribute to the renewal of aging coffee farms.

“The main objective of the project is to ensure that the revival of coffee production in the Cavally region does not come at the expense of the forest cover and sustainable development, as it happened in the past. We are particularly delighted that this resonates with a partner like ofi ” - Matthew Spencer, IDH Global Director, Landscapes

This project is contributing to ofi’s overarching target to establish 20 living landscape partnerships across our global supply chains by 2030, with 6 of these established in coffee supply chains, as set out in our Coffee LENS strategy.