Producer Profiles

COCLA - Central de Cooperativas Agrarias Cafetaleras

COCLA, or the Central de Cooperativas Agrarias Cafetaleras is a second-grade Peruvian coffee organization determined to contribute to the social and economic development of its member cooperatives –22 throughout the country representing an estimated 8,000 small coffee farmers. The beginnings of COCLA can be traced to 1964 when the results of cooperativism first became apparent in the region. Today, COCLA continues to work for the advancement of its members, producing about 600,000 quintals of coffee per year. According to cooperative management, about 50 percent of the region’s coffee is processed and exported through COCLA.
 

Quotable

“

Before we were Fair Trade certified, it was difficult to make direct contacts with clients and enter the market. Now, access is easier from the campaigns, initiatives and promotion Fair Trade USA has established.  ”

Carmen Leon Mamnia, COCLA Manager
“

If we did not have Fair Trade we would not have adequate resources to overcome the coffee crisis. We hope that with Fair Trade we will continue to receive a stable price for our coffee, thereby enabling us to continue investing in the quality of our product.  ”

Guillermo Aquilar Lozano, ex President of COCLA
“

I want to thank the consumer for making the decision to buy products with the Fair Trade seal because this means they recognize the work of the small farmer. This decision as a consumer is changing the lives of many people. It gives producers hope to continue improving their lives and provide better options for themselves and their children, such as better houses, access to education and health care. These basic services are very difficult to get here in Peru. The producers work with great care to always try to produce a better product.  ”

Carmen León Mamnia, COCLA Manager

Programs

Investing in Health

In 2007, COCLA allocated $3,000 of premium funds for medical assistance projects for its members

Machinery and Technical Assistance

COCLA's team of technical assistants train farmers to increase yields, improve quality and implement crop-diversification and organic production methods. The cooperative recently invested portions of the Fair Trade premium to purchase coffee driers and pulpers to help communities maintain the quality of their coffee and create a consistent way of processing across regions. Having these machines enable farmers and the cooperative to offer high quality coffee which will ultimately lead to better prices and higher incomes.

Environmental Programs and Training

COCLA uses Fair Trade funds to support several environmental programs including a reforestation project, organic agriculture training, best practices to preserve the environment and a crop diversification project, all of which significantly improve the nutrition of farming families and provides them with an additional source of income.