Financing costs apply until the coffee is released.
The coffee story
NAME: Cooperativa Agropecuária dos Produtores Orgânicos de Nova Resende e Região CONTACT: [email protected] FLO ID 2541 Fairtrade certified since 2006 Number of members 116 Altitude 1,100-1,200 m Production Area 1,214 ha Product variety Catuaí Amarillo, Catuaí Rojo, Mundo Nuevo, Catuaí, Arara, Bourbon, Catiguá Harvest Months May- September Export Period January-December Other Certifications Certifica Minas and ATeG
Provided by CLAC
Provided by CLAC
INTRODUCTION The Cooperativa Agropecuária dos Produtores Orgânicos de Nova Resende e Região (COOPERVITAE) is located in Nova Resende in the southern state of Minas Gerais. The city of about 17 thousand inhabitants, has a mountainous landscape dominated by coffee plantations, which is the main activity of the region.
In 2001, the AAO (Association of Organic Agriculture) supports the start of organic certification and the first commercialization of organic coffee is made, but much was discussed about the difficulties in marketing through association. Within the framework of these questions, the need arises to create a cooperative, being founded, in July 2001, the Coopervitae, with the purpose of disciplining production, making feasible certification and group marketing. Currently, Coopervitae has 120 members located in 5 cities of the region, with the capacity for direct export.
COFFEE PRODUCTION The process of coffee production in Coopervitae is predominantly carried out in a familiar way, the coffees are collected manually and with the help of manual collapses due to the mountainous relief. Subsequently, the drying process is carried out, which is carried out by women in most cases. The dryers are used only if the weather is not favourable. The process of storage and processing of the coffees is done in the contracted warehouse and 100% tracked.
The cooperative was one of the first to obtain organic and Fairtrade certification, and has always worked to promote its producers to reduce the use of agrochemicals through good agricultural practices, as well as courses on integrated management of pests and diseases for the training and productive development of its members.
BENEFITS OF FAIRTRADE The Coopervitae organization considers that the Fairtrade certification adds value to the effort and brings the producer closer to the final buyer, with transparency and trust, in addition to demanding continuous improvement in relation to the care of the environment, with the health and well-being of the families and of the community. QUALITY AND PRODUCTIVITY The Cooperative invests the resources of the Fairtrade Premium in improving the productivity and quality of its cooperative's coffee through technical assistance, training and conferences. Through the partnership with IF Muzambinho and the work of the field technician, the organization promotes good agricultural practices through the ecological management of plantations and the management of pests and diseases, thus reducing the use of chemical products.
The organization has developed the Cafés de Calidad project since 2018 as one of the strategies of the new management of Coopervitae. The cooperative throughout the year held field days on quality and post-harvest, a round of business, conferences and encouraged the participation of producers in the Municipal Quality Competition promoted with the partners. The contest counted on the participation of 40 producers that were awarded the 2 first places in the natural category with scores of 87.12; and the top 5 positions in the peeled cherry category, with scores between 85 and 86, the result of everyone's work.
