--- Sr. Máximo Pérez Mejía, ISMAM member

In 1985, Mayan farmers from more than 100 rural communities in the diocese of Sierra Madre de Chiapas came together to form the cooperative Indigenas de la Sierra Madre de Motozintla, or ISMAM. Theirs was an incredible effort to fight against the grinding poverty and exploitation threatening their families. They worked together to address their common needs for technical assistance, processing equipment, and direct market access.

ISMAM has been Fair Trade certified by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) since 1989. Today, approximately 8,000 family members benefit from the organization’s accomplishments.

The Fair Trade price has enabled Indígenas de la Sierra Madre de MotozInternationala to establish various social and productive programs

Education.
All co-op members' children go to elementary school, and some continue to high school.

Environment.
Seventy-six trained cooperative members carried out day-to-day training of members in organic practices, which led to 100% organic certification for the ISMAM members’ 24,000 acres of land. Agronomists have assisted members in planting fruit trees as shade for their coffee plants. The citrus fruits are often sold in local markets for supplemental family income.

Credit Program.
The cooperative is able to provide a guaranteed price before the coffee is harvested, thereby reducing the pre-harvest anxiety that is a fact of life for most small-scale farmers.

Transportation Improvements.
Higher incomes for farmers allow families to stay together, thereby helping preserve indigenous culture and local traditions.

Womens Programs.
The women of ISMAM have cultivated coffee, ornamental palm trees, and cinnamon and pepper cultivation for local sale.