Producer Profiles

COOPCAFER - Cooperativa Departamental Caficultores Risaralda

COOPCAFER, or the Cooperativa Departamental de Caficultores Risaralda, worker-owned and administered coffee organization in Colombia. It was formed to collectively produce and distribute goods and services for its associates and the communities in which they operate. Their mission is to guarantee the commercialization of coffee at a just price and offer complementary social development programs. Having gone through many changes, in structure and names since the late 1950’s, COOPCAFER came into its current form in 1994. Today, an estimated 3,495 people are members of the organization, with 17 agencies and 16 shops in the department of Risaralda, Colombia.
 

Quotable

“

In the community of La Unión, there are coffee farmers who delay three, four, five hours – they stay overnight to process their coffee because they don’t have the adequate infrastructure to process their own coffee. Today, they pick the coffee in two hours and take time for their families and themselves because the farms are organized and everything is on site. They do this with a lot of humility, but with a lot of pride.  ”

José Fernando Aguirre
“

In my family, we had the opportunity to get a scholarship so our eldest son could study. He went to Bogotá, the capital, for a University degree. He was there five semesters – all of which the association helped us finance.  ”

Evelio Aguirre Tapasco
“

Fair Trade programs have constructed several septic tanks to avoid contaminating water sources –springs, streams and brooks. They have also improved our schools. These are really good programs, not only for our education but also for our health.  ”

Eudoro Echeverri Mejía

Programs

Women's Coffee Cultivation Programs

The cooperative implemented a leadership training program for female members. In 2006, a woman's group made community germinators that benefited more than 150 coffee growers. They have also repaired and calibrated more than 300 de-pulping machines.

Coffee Specialty Tours and Training

The cooperative sponsors coffee quality tours where coffee specialists advise members on how to improve the quality of their product. They also give trainings on how to safely and efficiently manage pesticides, as well as on the correct use of protective equipment and gear.