Posted: August 29, 2005
Peruvian Ministry of Production names Equal Exchange Trading Partner, COCLA Exemplary Model Business
The Peruvian Ministry of Production recently named one of Equal Exchange’s trading partners, COCLA, “an exemplary model business in the Inca region”, for its consistent offer of high quality coffee and its contribution to economic development in the Cusco region.
COCLA, comprised of 8500 small scale farmers has had a tremendous economic and social impact in the Cusco region and in the international market through their specialty coffee exports. For these reasons, the Ministry of Production has also incorporated COCLA into its national “Buy Peru” program, an initiative that seeks to give incentives to the population to consume products grown in their country.
The cooperative business was founded 36 years ago and today brings together 23 cooperatives in the valleys of La Convencion and Lares. Over the last decade, COCLA has succeeded in developing different regional blends of coffee, which are recognized in the international market for the high quality of its cup. Demand for the coffee has been growing in England, Japan, the United States, Holland and Germany. According to Raul Del Aguila, COCLA’s General Manager, “we’ve succeed in developing a relationship of trust with buyers of different countries, that has permitted us to place our products with competitive prices, and that in turn, has permitted us to reinvest in our own productive infrastructure.”
In addition to COCLA’s success in the international market, they also sell their products to the local Peruvian market. The business offers diverse blends of coffee, as well as tea, hot chocolate, honey and soy products for local consumption. In the last few months, they have seen a rapid increase in sales of these products.
Equal Exchange Honored by COCLA
Equal Exchange was praised for our work during the inauguration of COCLA’s 21st Annual Agricultural and Artisan Fair in Quillabamba, Peru. We were asked to speak at both the Fair Inauguration ceremony on July 25th and the following day at COCLA’s birthday celebration. Equal Exchange was named a Padrino (Godfather) of the Fair.
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