Peru

“Fair Trade pays us a premium on the price of our coffee and with this extra money we’ve been able to complete important  infrastructure projects such as bridges and roads. Education has also been supported through the construction of several new schools." 

--- Primitiva Huarcaya Vargas 

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A group of 100 small-scale coffee farmers from Peru’s Chanchamayo region came together in 1966 to form the Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera La Florida (La Florida) in order to bypass local intermediaries. Their efforts have brought much-needed education, infrastructure, credit, and environmental restoration to their remote corner of the Peruvian jungle. Though the cooperative was devastated by the Shining Path, a violent guerilla organization, in the 1980s, today the cooperative has grown to include 849 members. La Florida has enjoyed dramatic benefits since becoming Fair Trade certified by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) in 1993. The Fair Trade price has enabled Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera La Florida to establish various social and productive programs.

Education: An education department was established to monitor the compliance and execution of social programs oriented toward supporting vulnerable families. Programs include the distribution of scholarships for higher education and health education courses for cooperative members and their families.

Productive Investment: La Florida's Social Investment Group manages proposals from members requesting financial assistance to purchase tools and production equipment. The cooperative also has an agricultural department that works with members to improve their production capacity and coffee quality through training courses and equipment upgrades.

Environment: The Occupational Learning Center for Sustainable Agriculture offers in-depth training in environmentally-responsible farming techniques.

Health: La Florida provides financial assistance to members and their families in case of serious accidents or ailments. The cooperative also assists with basic medical expenses for members in need.

 ABOUT THE CO-OP

FLO Id: 796          Year Established: 1966

Number of Members: 1,200

Estimated Annual Production:   49,182 Containers

Average Farm Size: 15.7 HA Hectares

 ABOUT THE COFFEE

Varieties: Caturra, Tipica, Catimor, Pache, Borbon

Elevation: 1,700 meters

Harvest Season: Mar - Aug   Export Season: Mar - Dec

Percent Organic: 78%

Conventional Production:  19,985

Organic Production: 28,372

Organic Certification Agency:  IMO, OCIA