Peru

CORDILLERA AZUL CO-OPERATIVE We're thrilled to offer this sweet yet spiced Peruvian Coffee from Cordillera Azul Co-op. This coffee offers a delightful blend of taste notes, beginning with sweet stoned fruits such as mango and apricot, complemented with a finishing hint of cinnamon spice. On October 1, 2018 the Cordillera Azul Cooperative was founded. Prior to this, the local farmers had sold coffee to local traders known as ‘coyotes’, who would offer unfair prices that did not reflect the value of the work. A group of 14 producers came together in an effort to foster solidarity through cooperation and bring about economic and social change in the region. Under the leadership of Juan Rivera, the initiative gained momentum and attracted more coffee growers. Currently, the cooperative has 204 members, across 733 hectares of coffee plantation. This initiative not only marked the birth of the second cooperative in the district but also fostered new opportunities for the local farmers. The 14 founding members, hailing from the hamlets of Flor de Selva, Paraíso, Flor de Café, Israel Uriarte, Triunfo, and San Juan in the district of Bajo Biavo Providence of Bellavista, now work together as part of the co-op, improving cup quality by +3 points and earning Fairtrade, RFA, and organic certifications. Profits from the co-op are reinvested back into the farms, implementing sustainable agriculture practices such as acquiring organic fertilizers ( e.g. island guano), producing their own compost, and building solar dryers/tanks. Additionally, the cooperative has been awarded funding from the AGROIDEAS state project, allowing them to acquire new technologies such as quality areas and hiring agronomists to work directly with producers.