Cooperative Without Borders
International (CSF)

Name: Asociación de Pequeños Productores de Talamanca (Talamanca Small Farmers Association)
Country: Costa Rica
Principal Product: Cocoa beans, bananas, and fruits.
Description: This is a first level association of farmers in Costa Rica, located in the Caribbean indigenous zone. Most of the members are of Bribrí origin, and live on indigenous reserves in Talamanca. There are almost 1,100 members.

The main commercial products are cocoa beans, bananas, and other tropical fruits. In 2006, APPTA produced 240 tons of cocoa, of which 20 tons were cocoa butter and 10 tons of cocoa powder packed in-country.

Expectations regarding cocoa are very high, in both the international and domestic markets. Currently, demand outstrips supply, so that increased productivity is necessary. APPTA has established alliances with FinMac, a Costa Rican firm, to produce handcrafted chocolates for the domestic market (eventually for export as well), as well as cookies. This process must be supported, since it offers a tremendous potential.

Bananas are sold fresh to the local market, for producing puree, and dehydrated for export. They are beginning to process fruits such as lemon guava (arazá), guava, and starfruit (carambola) on an artisan basis for export. There is a serious need to improve the processing, as well as consolidate and professionalize their administrative capacity to develop as an enterprise.

Webpage: www.appta.org