Producer Profiles

COCAFCAL - Cooperativa Cafetalera Las Capucas

COCAFCAL, or the Cooperativa Capucas Limitada, is located in western Honduras, in the buffer zone of the Celaque National Park –a cloud forest containing the country’s highest mountain. The cooperative represents an estimated 12 communities from the municipalities of San Pedro and Corquin, in Copan. Together, they work to promote the sustainable development of their local economy through financial, technical, productive and marketing services for members and families. Reducing poverty and increasing standards of life for their community are their main objectives. Their development programs have benefitted approximately 5,000 people in Las Capucas and surrounding regions. Members are dedicated to growing sustainable conventional, organic and Fair Trade coffees. The cooperative's General Assembly has 10 members, nine of whom are women. The General Assembly manages the democratic use of the Fair Trade premium.
 

Quotable

“

My hope is that my children can grow up to be professionals, that I can build a better house for my family, that one day I can have the capacity to help people that are less fortunate than me. Fair Trade makes this dream a possibility.  ”

Jose Marel Portillo, 1st place cupping competition
“

Since we began producing coffee, our lives have steadily improved. Before, people lived almost exclusively in huts made of mud and sticks with straw roofs, today there are no more houses like this. Fair Trade certification has allowed us to improve our lives to a great extent.  ”

Isrrael Serrano Mejia, a COCAFCAL founder

Programs

Library with Computers

A portion of the Fair Trade Premium was used to construct a community library. This community investment provides a place for adult and children to learn and attend classes. Additionally it functions as a homework center for their children. The library, holds 11 computers with printers. They also host training classes of how to use computers and other topics.

Diversification of Investment

COCAFCAL has brought a group of woman together and trained them about coffee, making up a coffee advisory team. Their premium was used for training and to supply them with their independent office.

Community Soccer Field

COCAFCAL used Fair Trade Premiums to purchase land to construct a soccer field one city block in size for use by the Plantares and Capucas communities. Additional premium funds were allocated to rent a tractor to plane the field.