Producer Profiles

CENFROCAFE - Central Fronteriza Del Norte De Cafetaleros

In 1999, 11 organizations in the northern central region of Peru came together to form the Central Fronteriza Del Norte De Cafetaleros (CENFROCAFE). They started with 220 producers, cultivating an estimated 9,000 quintals of coffee on about 760 hectares of land spread throughout the Cajamarca region. The group now counts at least 2,262 coffee producing families working on approximately 1,200 hectares, 95 percent of which are organic with the remaining on the way to becoming certified organic.

CENFROCAFE became Fair Trade Certified TM in 2007 which facilitated more direct access to markets and comprehensive information on world market coffee prices. They have strengthened their relationship with international partners while creating a more transparent and just supply chain. Coffee from this cooperative regularly places in the top of Peruvian gourmet coffee competitions.
 

Quotable

“

We have much better contact with our clients and have created reliable and trustworthy relationships together. Financial organizations are now more available and willing to work with us. Fair Trade has opened many doors for us.  ”

Elemer Pena, Sales Manager CENFROCAFE
“

We are very grateful to consumers who purchase Fair Trade for all their support. With these sales, we are slowly improving our quality of life. We can now make small investments on our homes, health and future, and education is finally a possibility for us.  ”

– Elemer Pena, Sales Manager CENFROCAFE

Programs

Certification Assistance

Technical assistance experts are hired to guide and support members throughout their certification efforts, making sure producers understand Fair Trade and organic practices and standards fully.

Funeral Expense Fund

The cooperative created a funeral expense fund for members who are not able to afford buriel services or other related costs.

Technical Assistance & Capacity Building

In order to increase the production and efficiency of members, engineers and coffee production specialists were hired by CENFROCAFE to provide ongoing training,technical assistance and capacity building to members. In 2002, one member would produce 900lbs of coffee per hectare. Since the creation of this program in 2007, members have increased their production by more than twofold. In 2012, members are reporting the production of 2,100lbs of coffee per hectare. This has been a direct result of the training that members have received from this program.