Producer Profiles

CORCASAN - Coop Regional Cafetaleros San Juan Rio Coco

In 1978, a group of farmers came together to combine their resources and efforts to sell coffee, gain finances and share infrastructural and training costs. Later in 1992, Luisa Gonzalez was living in Esteli Nicaragua working in financial services for a local bank. One day she met a coffee farmer from the small town of San Juan del Rio Coco. He told Luisa that the farmers in his community needed someone to help run their group: everything from technical assistance to product commercialization, member management and coordinating member services. Luisa soon became the first employee of CORCASAN, a cooperative that was officially organized in 1994. Luisa and the farmers realized that the best way to grow their business and access better prices was to seek international buyers. Third party certification was a key piece to this puzzle.

For small farmers, financing is one of the most difficult barriers entering larger, more lucrative markets. Some groups are able to start small with government financing, in the hopes of scaling their business, increasing sales and eventually securing private financing in order to sell internationally.

This was CORCASAN’s strategy for years, yet unfortunately the group was not able to access financing; that is until they achieved Fair Trade Certification in 2005. Fair Trade quickly helped CORCASAN gain international reputability as a seller. They started to win external financing deals to finance pre-harvest costs and they began to export internationally and independently – a huge step for a small cooperative of 160 farmers. This far flung community in the hills of San Juan del Rio Coco was now selling directly to multi-million dollar import agencies in the United States and Europe.

Some of the benefits CORCASAN began to see included increased access to badly needed financing, international buyers, community development projects, funds to provide scholarships for members and their children, training programs to improve the quality of their coffee and more opportunities for women. Today, women make up over half of CORSACAN's staff.
 

Quotable

“

Fair Trade is a different kind of impact than the other certifications we have (RFA and Organic). This program ensures that we are all committing our efforts to the community and to helping ourselves and those around us.  ”

Luisa Gonzalez, former General Manager
“

What are the benefits of Fair Trade? There are so many. Through Fair Trade we were able to become direct exporters. Through Fair Trade we were able to access financial capital to grow and run our business. Through Fair Trade we are providing direct benefits and services to not only our members but to their families and to the whole community.... We have a saying when we talk about Fair Trade: “Es ganar-ganar. Todos benefician, todos ganan.” In English: “It’s Win-Win for everyone- everyone benefits and everyone wins.”  ”

Luisa Gonzalez, former General Manager
“

In 2005, we decided to pursue Fair Trade Certification. It was difficult process for them because we still did not have internet or cell phone service. But with much hard work, the farmers met the rigorous Fair Trade Standards for traceability, environmental compliance, and governance to prove fair treatment of our members and workers. And with Fair Trade Certification we saw a difference.  ”

Luisa Gonzalez, former General Manager

Programs

Internal cooperative training program on organic production

Fair Trade funds also help support an internal cooperative training program on organic production, quality and best practices. With cooperative and Fair Trade funding, CORCASAN hires professional cuppers and agronomists to train all 160 cooperative members in an 18-month intensive program. The fund also pays for 10 sons and daughters of cooperative members to participate in the training programs.

Growing a Healthy Community

CORCASAN has been providing trainings and seminars in how woman affiliates to the cooperative can prevent cervical cancer. They also provide transportation for medical care.

Educational investment

The cooperative has set aside a higher education fund to assist member and their children attend training and classes to improve their products. The fund covers transportation and additional materials.