Boa Esperança - Coop Cafe Especial Boa Esperança Dos Costas

The Cooperativa dos Produtores de Cafe Especial de Boa Esperança (Associação Dos Costas) is an association of small-scale farmers located in the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. The organization was founded in March 1989 and has since grown to represent over 80 producers and their families. Associação dos Costas is passionate about improving the quality of its coffee and is devoted to preserving the environment. The association completed several extensive soil analyses and geographic mapping projects in 2009 as well as quality improvement trainings. Producers are motivated to apply their new skills and continue improving their crop. Associação Dos Costas 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 a result of a partnership between USAID, Fair Trade USA, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and SEBRAE-MG, designed to improve the quality of Brazilian coffee, increase market linkages and raise producer capacity. Through the partnership, Associação dos Costas participated in cooperative governance, business management, cupping and post-harvest best practices trainings to improve their product quality.