For the past decade, a relationship between Heart to Honduras and the people of Lomas del Aguila has been growing in their mountain village. Meanwhile in Ohio, another friendship has led to a productive partnership with Dayton coffee roaster, Boston Stoker Coffee Co. Ready to put their passion and expertise in specialty coffee to work, Boston Stoker has combined their knowledge and market connection with HTH’s ability to organize, connect, train, and encourage. All of this added to the desire and initiative of the Lomas de Aguila farmers to improve, work hard, and reach a new level of coffee quality, has produced an amazing partnership resulting in some celebration-worthy outcomes.

Three years ago, Boston Stoker began accompanying HTH to visit, learn from and then guide the farmers of Lomas del Aguila towards better production methods. They were joined by the USAID Access to Markets team in 2018, which provided an entire year of technical assistance in organic maintenance and fertilizer, crop management, drying techniques, and post-harvest care. Combined with the leadership and organizational training through HTH, the farmers have achieved some remarkable improvements in quality in a very short time.

In early 2019, because of these dramatic improvements, Boston Stoker made an initial purchase of roughly 80 sacks of green coffee from 10 farmers in the community. The purchase price represented a 40% increase in over normal market value. Boston Stoker was thrilled with the results, and now offers this high-quality coffee for sale on their website and in Ohio shops to both individuals and wholesale customers.

In November 2019, farmers were thrilled receive a packaged bag of their coffee - having made the journey from Honduras to Ohio and back again. . The "Lomas del Aguila" logo on each bag was created by Made Midwest based on a community-generated list of their unique attributes and characteristics.

In 2020, Heart to Honduras and Lomas del Aguila enters their third year of the Communities of Holistic Impact program, Boston Stoker is planning on doubling the quantity of their purchase. Purchasing at least double the quantity of coffee from this harvest as they did last year. Although additional money in their pockets is of great importance to growers who struggle to make ends meet, this project means so much more than that. It is a testament to the significance of quality partnerships that embody a vision of holistic empowerment. Heart to Honduras and Boston Stoker have worked hard to reinforce to these growers that they have something to be proud of--not only in their fields, but in their homes, their schools, and their communities. Together, the people of Lomas del Aguila, Boston Stoker, and Heart to Honduras, are working to recognize the value of local resources and capacities and to promote a healthier model of development in this beautiful town.