CEPCO - Coordinadora Estatal de Produción de Café de Oaxaca

CEPCO is an organization of small producers who, apart from growing coffee sustainably, aim to transform the conditions of daily life for its farmers and their families. They are developing economic, social and cultural programs to overcome conditions of extreme poverty, and build a sustainable way of life. Some of the cooperative’s objectives include promoting participation of women, gaining more access to credit, promoting crop diversification and organic agriculture and supporting public policies that promote development. One of CEPCO's priorities is organic agriculture. CEPCO's decision to be organic is mainly out of concern for the health of the community. Organic practices will prevent hazardous wastes from contaminating local water sources and soil. They also grow organically to promote plant and animal diversity. Their agricultural practices encourage the presence of insects, reptiles, small mammals and sometimes deer. Women’s participation is considered to be a fundamental part of their social development and 33 percent of CEPCO's members are women. CEPCO promotes women’s participation in all cooperative roles - local, regional and national. Cooperative leaders recognize the unfavorable conditions women are more susceptible to and have encouraged open dialogue between male and female members to combat this inequality. The majority of CEPCO's members have fewer than five hectares of land per family. They are indigenous people and speak one or more languages –Zap, Mixtec, Mixe, Chinanteco, Cuicatecos, and Mazatec.