Local Cooperative
CoopePueblos Cooperative
CAN has teamed up with the local farmers cooperative, Coopepueblos R.L. in the management of the internship program and the direct marketing of their coffee.
As international coffee prices have fallen over the past decade, a group of 46 coffee farmers located in the village of Agua Buena in southern Costa Rica, decided to form a new cooperative, Coopepueblos R.L. It was formed on May 7, 2005 to further develop the direct market of coffee in partnership with CAN, transition to sustainable farming practices, and to diversify incomes.
Cooperative decision making is based on the annual general assembly of members. During the general assembly of members, a Board of Directors and two committees are elected. The Board then names and hires a manager to oversee the cooperative on a daily basis. It is the responsibility of the Board to set policy and assist in management.
Members include Costa Rican farm families who share a commitment to sustainable farming. At this time the cooperative does not own land or operate a farm collectively. In addition to coffee cultivation, coop members have begun cultivating other crops and diversifying their activities.
One of the objectives of the coop is to develop a more conservation-oriented approach to the products they cultivate. In this way they hope to reduce the environmental impacts of agriculture, such as soil erosion. Additionally, the goal is to strengthen ties with local environmental groups and protect the natural resources of the area.
Some of the current activities of the cooperative:
- Direct coffee marketing to the US
- Local coffee sales
- Supporting the internship program
- Maintaining an internet center
- Coordinating community-based projects
- Improving conditions of local farms through advisory to farmers
- Agroecotourism development (planning stages)
To learn more about CoopePueblos click here
Left: Alexis and Walter in the office of the CoopePueblos coop
Above: Hard at work
