Meet the Women Behind Your Guatemalan Coffee

Throughout International Year of the Woman Farmer, we’re visiting Sucafina origins around the world to hear the perspectives of the women behind the coffee. After Uganda, our next stop is Guatemala, where we spoke with producers and team members about their work, their daily life and their advice for women considering a career in coffee. 

The UN declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer to highlight the vital contributions of women across agrifood systems and the importance of strengthening their role in them. Women play an essential role across the entire coffee supply chain but their work is often less visible, and access to training, resources and opportunities is not always equal. 

Today, we’re in Guatemala with two producers who work with Sucafina Guatemala and one Sucafina team member. They share a closer look at their experiences in coffee, their day-to-day work and their career advice for other women.  

Sueidy Marleni Hernández Catalán – Coffee producer from Palencia District

What does a day in your life look like? 

My day starts in the morning, when I go to collect all the workers who help with the coffee harvest. I come here to pick the coffee, then we take about an hour for lunch. Afterwards, we come back, weigh the coffee and take it to where it's sold. 

This is my favorite season – it feels like the reward for all the work we do throughout the year. We feel very happy and grateful to see our coffee plants full of ripe cherries.  

What has it been like working with Sucafina?

I’ve been working with Sucafina for two years. I feel very grateful for the support I’ve received so far. Everything from the training to the technicians’ visits has made a real difference to my coffee production, one day at a time. 

What advice do you have for women looking to start coffee farming? 

It's hard, for sure. But working with coffee is something that really helps. I’m a single mother with a two-year-old child and the coffee income helps us get by. Now I have a way to provide for my son, and I am happy to be able to pass on my love of coffee to him.  

Sindy Arely Reyes – Coffee producer from Palencia District 

What does a day in your life look like? 

A day working with coffee starts when we wake up and, of course, have a little cup of coffee – that's what wakes us up. Then we go to our coffee plot to see how our trees are doing and what care they need.

What has it been like working with Sucafina?  

Sucafina has helped us a lot from the very beginning – before then, we didn't have any training on how to care for coffee. Their advice on how to prune and what treatments to apply to our plants has been a huge step forward for us. They've also helped us with training sessions and with plants and fertilizer. We are very grateful.  

What advice do you have for women looking to start coffee farming? 

The best advice I can give to other women is to go for it! Working with coffee is wonderful and being a woman shouldn't hold us back. Instead, it fills us with strength. Every day, I’m excited to come to my plot and see my plants well cared for.  

Diana Barillas – Trading Analyst, Sucafina Guatemala 

What does a day in your job look like? 

I come to the office, say hello to my colleagues, catch up with the team and speak with people from Colombia – with producers and suppliers. I make sure everything is up-to-date, including documents, sales, purchases and payments.  

At midday we all have lunch together, enjoying a nice moment and disconnecting a little from work to spend time with everyone here. In the afternoon, we continue with whatever is pending: coffee purchases and updating all the files, for example. 

What do you like most about your job? 

What I love about Sucafina and the trading area is that we're always learning. There isn't a day when I don't learn something new or develop a new skill that helps me in my role. I really enjoy being able to connect and share with people from different countries, and I always learn from each of them – things I can apply here in Guatemala. That connection with people from so many countries, from all over the world, is what I love most. 

What’s your advice to women who want to work in coffee? 

My main piece of advice – and the one that has helped me the most – is to never be afraid. Taking risks allows us to try something new, learn and just go for it without fear – because fear limits us in so many ways. I believe we are capable of doing anything we set our minds to. All we need is an opportunity and someone to walk alongside us.  

Want to find out more about our  Guatemala  supply chains or interested in booking coffee from these origins? Reach out to your trader to explore our offering.