Producer Profiles

CENFROCAFE - Central Fronteriza Del Norte De Cafetaleros

In 1999, 11 organizations in the northern central region of Peru came together to form the Central Fronteriza Del Norte De Cafetaleros (CENFROCAFE). They started with 220 producers, cultivating an estimated 9,000 quintals of coffee on about 760 hectares of land spread throughout the Cajamarca region. The group now counts at least 2,262 coffee producing families working on approximately 1,200 hectares, 95 percent of which are organic with the remaining on the way to becoming certified organic.

CENFROCAFE became Fair Trade Certified TM in 2007 which facilitated more direct access to markets and comprehensive information on world market coffee prices. They have strengthened their relationship with international partners while creating a more transparent and just supply chain. Coffee from this cooperative regularly places in the top of Peruvian gourmet coffee competitions.
 

Quotable

“

We have much better contact with our clients and have created reliable and trustworthy relationships together. Financial organizations are now more available and willing to work with us. Fair Trade has opened many doors for us.  ”

Elemer Pena, Sales Manager CENFROCAFE
“

We are very grateful to consumers who purchase Fair Trade for all their support. With these sales, we are slowly improving our quality of life. We can now make small investments on our homes, health and future, and education is finally a possibility for us.  ”

– Elemer Pena, Sales Manager CENFROCAFE

Programs

Funeral Expense Fund

The cooperative created a funeral expense fund for members who are not able to afford buriel services or other related costs.

Loan Program and Training

A loan program was created to support members with unforeseen financial burdens and challenging harvest seasons. Capacity investment projects were also developed to help producers better manage their land and coffee plants. Often, producers will take out loans to invest in much needed tools, pre and post harvest seasons. Producers learn how to use these tools, and new techniques, in regular training sessions provided by the cooperative.

Cooperative Strengthening

This fund has supported the directors and members of CENFROCAFE by providing resources to strengthen working relationships within the cooperative and improve communication between the directors and members. One activity that has been greatly supported through this fund has been a yearly competition for "best coffee quality" among member producers. This is an activity that has increased motivation and enthusiasm to work together and produce coffee with ever increasing quality.