Producer Profiles

COOCAFE - Cooperativa dos Cafeicultores da Região de Lajinha

COOCAFE was founded in 1979 in the city of Lajinha in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, to strengthen coffee planters of this region. Having faced many economic struggles throughout the years, farmers believed their cooperative was strong enough to keep its members’ spirits high. Today, the cooperative remains successful, determined and consistent in their product. It is located between the forest regions of Minas Gerais and the mountains of the Espírito Santo state. The climate is predominantly humid and the land sees a substantial amount of rainfall throughout the year. Most of the region is used for farming by families usually owning between five and ten hectares of land.

COOCAFE is one of several Brazilian producer groups participating in the Responsible Sourcing Partnership (RSP) project. The RSP project is a result of a partnership between USAID, Fair Trade USA, Walmart Stores, Inc. and SEBRAE-MG, designed to improve the quality of Brazilian coffee, increase market linkages and raise producer capacity. Through participation in the RSP project, COOCAFE has improved its infrastructure which has resulted in higher quality coffee, and has benefited from targeted training programs and increased contact with the U.S. coffee market.
 

Quotable

“

Before we didn't have an agronomist and today we do. This has helped improve the quality of our coffee substantially. It was only with the Fair Trade premium that we were able to contract these agronomists.  ”

Conceção pez de Costa, member
“

Since 1999 Joao Paula de Carvalho has been a member of Coopfam. He lives with his wife and his daughters in a house he just finished building. For 39 years, Joao and his wife lived in an old house on the outskirts of Poco Fundo where they raised 5 children and dreamt of moving to a better neighborhood and bigger house. His dream seemed unattainable given the condition of a small farmer in the conventional market. Joao joined Coopfam and feels satisfied now as he realizes his dream. He has a better house and bought a car, but more importantly, he and his family feel they are working for a better world with a great respect for the environment and natural farming. "I am happy to be able to realize this dream. Since I got married I've been dreaming of building my house," said Joao in his testimonial about Fair Trade. Joao also built a barn to store their coffee before bringing it to the coop. They have their own drying patio and bought a car, all possible with the money they receive by selling in the fair trade market.  ”

Joao Paula de Carvalho
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In addition to providing technical assistance, the coop also does very strong work to promote social programs and the environment. In addition to working with the farmer, we really work to educate his wife just as much and the young people who live in our community.  ”

Fernando R. Cerqueira, Coocafe president

Programs

Garden project for environmental awareness

A garden project was developed in schools throughout the community to raise awareness about cooperativism, the environment and conscious consumption.

Project Live Free

Project Live Free is a public program in the COOCAFE community that focuses on drug prevention as well as the recovery and social reintegration of former addicts.

Machinery Acquisition

Fair Trade funds will be used to purchase new equipment for the Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo warehouses. This will help increase quality and production.