Coope Tarrazu R.L.

Coope Tarrazu RL was founded way back in 1960 and today count around 5000 members. The board of directors is still made up of farmers. During the last 15 years, the number of partners has increased by 50% and production by 70%. Its comprehensive partner service package includes credit, preferential price payment, technical assistance, measured support, etc. In 2012, they successfully launched the ‘Café de Comunidades’ program, which offers micro-zone coffee and distributes a prize invested in communal works. 8 years later we are still sourcing under this program.

Tarrazu is the only region in Costa Rica where coffee production is actually growing. Around 19,000 pickers come to the area during harvest time, of which 10,000 will pick for the coop. Young Costa Ricans don’t want to farm because they would like a constant source of income and picking is seasonal. However in the Tarrazu region it is all about coffee, and young people and women are more interested in coffee. The co-operative provides nurseries, agronomy support and training and a whole host of services. Coffee pulp is converted into organic fertiliser, coffee trees are given to farmers to maintain crop health, and power for the office is generated from solar panels. The businesses that the coop also owns to maintain these activities – gas stations and supermarkets -also generates a reward to the cooperative members at the end of the year.

Read more about them here Coope Tarrazu website. (opens in new window)