Producer Profiles

PRONOVA - Cooperativa das Montanhas do Espirito Santo

Founded as an association in 1989, Cooperativa dos Cafeicultores das Montanhas do Espiritu Santo (PRONOVA) was formally established as a cooperative in 2004. Their goal was to create and promote the sustainable production of high quality coffee by offering technical guidance and assistance to the family-based farming communities of Espiritu Santo. They have become a high-quality Arabica pioneer in a region primarily dominated by Robusta (non-specialty) coffee production. PRONOVA became Fair Trade Certified™ in 2005. Members form part of a tight-knit community that takes pride in their Italian heritage.

PRONOVA is one of fifteen Brazilian Fair Trade Certified producer groups that participated in the 2007-2010 Responsible Sourcing Partnership (RSP) project. The RSP project is geared towards improving the quality of Brazilian coffee, increase market linkages and raise producer capacity. Through the project, members have participated in numerous trainings to improve coffee quality. The events and workshops included cooperative governance, business management, cupping and sustainable post-harvest practices. In addition, the cooperative has been able to implement a new pulping method, thus retaining the ripe cherry’s excellent quality through the processing stage.

Members from PRONOVA have placed first at the Semi-Washed category at the Brazil Fair Trade Certified Cupping Competition several years. The cooperative encourages participation in various cupping competitions. PRONOVA's members are focused on continuously improving the quality of their coffee through a myriad of initiatives including moisture tracking, soil analysis, technical assistance and sustainable management.
 

Programs

Raising Environmental Awareness

PRONOVA created and distributed a booklet to all of their members with clearly illustrated guidelines about land management, harvest and post-harvest handling, waste management and conservation. Dedicating resources to increasing efficiencies and farmer knowledge is very important to PRONOVA and as such they will continue to finance farmer education and management programs.

Technical Assistance and Training: Farming, Conservation, Health and Safety

Pronova provides incentives for members to participate in quality competitions. The cooperative also hired an agronomist to provide members with technical assistance, and offers courses in fertilizer use, disease prevention techniques, soil gestation, harvest and post-harvest practices, conservation, worker health and safety. Pronova offers courses in meeting the environmental and social criteria for Fair Trade certification standards.