Producer Profiles
COOPAIN - Cooperativa Agraria Industrial Naranjillo
Fair Trade Certified by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) in 2004, Naranjillo consistently strives to improve the quality of life of its farmers and the quality of its products.
The cooperative's main offices are located in Tingo Maria in the mountainous jungle of eastern central Peru. Cooperative members are distributed between three departments (equivalent to US states): Huanuco, San Martin and Ucayali, and each one has its own cocoa and coffee warehouses and branch office. This large, active cooperative has developed several committees that manage not only the production and sale of product, but also promote the health, education and socio-economic development of the organization's members. The success of the cooperative and the value that Fair Trade provides its members can be measured by its astonishing growth--adding 1,500 members in 2 years.
Quotable
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Thanks to Fair Trade I have received capacity building trainings on organic production and now I am committed to maintaining a method of production that will protect and sustain the environment. ” Ramón Rojas Runco
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The members of the Naranjillo Cooperative, including myself, are brothers and we collaborate mutually with so much passion to meet our common cause – improving the quality of our lives and our families’ lives and contributing to the development of our community. ” Isaac Zuniga, general manager
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Programs
Purchase of Fertilizer to Enhance Field Productivity
Naranjillo invested Fair Trade premiums in high quality fertilizer, enhancing product quality and productivity.
Sustainable Farming Trainings
Through the cooperative’s Sustainable Production Project, made possible with Fair Trade premiums, producers receive technical assistance in organic production. Technicians offer group and individual workshops and courses at “field schools,” where members participate in hands-on trainings, on their own farms. The Sustainable Production Project’s goal is to teach producers how to implement more efficient agricultural practices so the cooperative can guarantee markets a uniform, high-quality product, and also promote the conservation of land within their sphere of influence. Project results have been significant with coffee production at one instance increasing 75 percent per hectare.
Seed Bank for Crop Diversification
The cooperative has established a seed bank to encourage the diversification of agricultural production and provide additional methods to improve the income of members and their families.