COOPEAGRI is a social economy cooperative orientated to the integral development of their partners by implementing projects and alternative programs that contribute to improving their quality of life.
Since its inception they have worked to promote corporate social responsibility, innovation and customer service excellence, involvement of partners and employees, and commitment to the environment. In 2007 they celebrated their 45th anniversary.
Today the cooperative represents more than 16000 members. In 2006, they exported 267 tons of Fair Trade sugar with the FLO certification. The resources generated by these exports were used to run programs for producers, such as payment of incentives, establishment of coffee almacigales and protection of the Peñas Blancas river basin.
The conservation of the Peñas Blancas River basin (forest protection and water) was initiated by resolution of the general assembly in 2006. It consists in granting certificates for Environmental Services of the National Forestry Financing Fund, funded with 20% of the funds generated by exports of sugar to the Fairtrade market. These certificates will transfer financial incentives to owners of protected areas, as well as technical basic training in forest management.
In 2006 the steps to formalize the granting of certificates of Environmental Services through the National Forestry Financing Fund were taken and they began a diagnosis to identify and validate the beneficiaries of the first phase, which aims at the inclusion of 100 hectares, with an annual growth of 100 additional acres by 2012.
In October 2007, we had the pleasure to meet two members of this organization: Mr. Alfredo Monge, President of the cooperative, and Mr. Gilbert Ramírez, Export manager. They described the experience of Coopeagri on Fairtrade to all attendees of the client meeting and they also participated in various events around the event of the 15th anniversary of Alternativa3.
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Products: coffee and sugar