Guaya’b Associación Civil was founded in December 1998, with a base of 54 coffee and honey producers. It began operations in September 1999, obtaining registration through Fairtrade International and acquiring legal documentation for direct export.

The name Guaya’b originates from the Mayan language of Poptiʼ and translates as “mutual aid”. Our ancestors did not use money to contract labor; purchases were not made with money; instead, people based their trade and sustainability on mutual aid.

The coverage area of Guaya’b Asociación Civil is made up of ten municipalities in the department of Huehuetenango, Guatemala. The population of this region is 87% Mayan, and 13% Latin.