Rigoberto Contreras Diaz Visits Chicago

Coop Yeni Navan (means "permanent sunrise"), MICHIZA is composed of 946 members from 43 communities. 

Yeni Navan started as a small organization regrouping organic coffee producers from various ethnic groups.  Their name, MICHIZA is an abbreviation of these five groups: Mixtecos, Chinantecos, Chatinos, Cuicatecos, and Zapotecos.  The farmers hoped that through the organization, they would be able to stop the local intermediaries from manipulating the local price of coffee and exploiting them in the process.  Initially, they sold their coffee only on the local market.  In 1989, the organization obtained legal status under the name Yeni Navan, gaining the authorization to export.  By 1991, they were capable of exporting independently. 

MICHIZA offers technical support to its members to improve their capacity to organic agriculture and overall coffee quality and yields.  MICHIZA is also responsible for  marketing and the direct export of their members' coffee.  In addition, they are in constant process of promoting women's participation in their decision-making, the impact of which is noted in the 266 women members.

The main objective of Yeni Navan is to raise the living standard of its partners and family through a sustainable agriculture and the construction of a fairer and more equitable market.  The members of the cooperative have a diversified production, which includes oranges, corn, beans, and sugar cane.