Costa Rica : EXCEPTIONAL SELECTION COFFEE.

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• Country:   Costa Rica
• Region:   San Marcos de Tarrazu, San Jose
• Producer: Coope Tarrazu R.L.
• Farm:   La Estica
• Varietal:  Catuai, Caturra
• Altitude:  1450 - 1600m  MASL
• Processing Method:  Natural                                                                                              

Coope Tarrazu RL was founded way back in 1960 and today count 4600  associates. The board of directors is still made up of farmers, and 58%  of members have 2 hectares or below as the average size of their farms.  Only 6% have more than 10 Hectares.

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 and more. Coope Tarrazu also act as exporter for around  40 micromills and 5 other cooperatives across the country.

In 2012, they successfully launched the ‘Café de Comunidades’  program, which offers micro-zone coffee and distributes a prize invested  in communal works. Over 10 years later we are still sourcing under this  program. 

Tarrazu is the only region in Costa Rica where coffee production is  actually growing. The area itself accounts for 38% of the national  coffee production. Around 19,000 pickers come to the area during harvest  time, of which 10,000 will pick for the coop. 

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.