It is not easy for the producers in the region to come up with the necessary financial means to invest in post-harvest processing machinery. For this reason, and because many of the producers only cultivate small quantities of coffee, the processing is often done in centralized washing stations – in this case, at the cooperative's facilities.
The co-op unites 45 mostly young producers – the average producer is in their mid-thirties. They mainly grow coffee, but also some fruit. Elías and the other members are committed to conserving biodiversity. They contribute to reforestation by planting trees, which nurture the soil and also provide shade for the coffee trees. True to the cooperative's name, the coffee was produced organically as well as under Fairtrade conditions.
Many farmers in the region prefer to grow the coca leaf instead of coffee. This is an issue for the coffee production. Coca can be harvested up to six times a year and offers attractive revenue opportunities. It therefore takes a lot for a coffee producer to remain loyal to coffee production. But it's not just up to them: It is also essential that a fair price is being paid and a perspective is given to the producers in order for them not only to cover the day-to-day costs, but to pay for necessary investments, such as farming equipment, or to go on a vacation as well. Like all our prices, the price for this coffee is well above conventional coffee prices. Our purchasing price is also around 20% higher than it was three years ago.
The producers of the Bio Arabica R.L. test and experiment with new coffee varieties and they constantly plant new trees. This, in combination with their ever growing experience, leads to improved quality and bigger harvests.
