Name: Asociación
Alianza de Familias Productoras Orgánicas de Costa Rica (Costa Rican
Alliance Association of Organic Farming Families)
Country: Costa Rica
Principal Product: Coffee
Description: This
is a civil association made up of families of organic small farmers in
different regions of Costa Rica that seek to improve their quality of
life through the production, processing, marketing, and legislation of
coffee and other organic products for the domestic and international
markets.
The Alliance began in June 2001, during the heat of
an Organic Coffee Cultivation Workshop, and with the conviction that
only the union among the organizations would allow organizational
solidarity.
In April 2002, the first General Assembly was held
with the participation of six organizations that later continued with
the process and today integrate the Alliance.
In April 2003, it obtained corporate recognition and the current
organizational structure was formalized.
- Participation of women and youths in the internal dynamics of the Alliance.
- Advances in diversification and integration of the products on the members’ farms.
- The production of high quality certified organic coffee in three different regions around the country (South, Turrialba, and Caraigres).
- Autonomous management, which is efficient and has clear criteria regarding the quality of small-scale wet and dry roasting of organic coffee.
- The sale of organic coffee in local markets and organic food fairs.
- Certification by Fairtrade (FLO) for overseas sales of the organic coffee.
- Placement of coffee on the international market by means of a strategic union with a consortium of coffee growers for the export of green coffee, which is linked to Fairtrade (FLO).
- Incorporation into Cooperativas Sin Fronteras Internacional, as a mechanism to have more direct access to the final consumer.
Webpage: www.alianzamadretierra.com