Sourcing Details Cooperatives have long defined the coffee culture of Peru, where the bulk of production comes from small farms owned and managed by producers who rely on the cooperative structure for support.
A perfect example is Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera Valle Alto (Valle Alto), which is an association of 317 coffee producers from the Ocallí districts within the Provincia de Utcubamba in the Amazonas region. Processing Details Producers typically cultivate coffee on just a few acres of land intercropped with shade trees, bananas, corn, and beans.
They carefully
harvest and sort cherries before depulping, fermenting, washing, and drying the coffee using their own micro-mills. Cooperative Activities After processing, the cooperative carries out activities that often go unnoticed but are crucial for producers with small farms.
Investments for basic infrastructure needs, like road improvements, establishing local warehouses, and preparing coffee for export are all coordinated through Valle Alto, which ensures traceability and quality control throughout the post harvest process. Valle Alto provides comprehensive technical assistance to producers, from seed selection to coffee processing, and helps farmers navigate the certification process.