Interview with Santiago 2009

Report by Sophie Verdon, Coop Sol intern

 
April 2009

Founded in 1995, CEPICAFÉ (Central Piurana de Cafetaleros), is a conglomeration of 81 organizations in northern Peru. It representes more than 6000 small-scale coffee farmers of the Piuran mountains in the regions of Cajamarca and Amazonas. CEPICAFÉ is primarily involved in coffee production which accounts for 80% of the coop's total production; but they also produce raw sugar, cocoa, and a variety of fruit jams. Since its creation, CEPICAFÉ's main objective has been to improve the quality of life of its members and the coop accomplishes this by promoting sustainable social development through Fair Trade.

Santiago Paz has worked for CEPICAFE since 1995. Starting off as an intern, he has since worked his way up to the top as commercial manager. His job entails searching for new markets for the coop's products to enter, analyzing current markets, and developing long-term relations with clients. He is constantly on the road and in the field, fostering good communication between the organization and its member producers.

CEPICAFÉ's members produce 100% Fair Trade, organic, high altitude and shade grown coffees. The area of production spreads across the Andes Mountain in Northern Peru, a well-known coffee region in the industry. For nearly 100 years, farmers have successfully cultivated coffee varieties 'typica' or 'Creole coffee' which adapts well to the various agro-climatic conditions of the region. Currently, CEPICAFÉ is encouraging its members to adopts methods of conservation so as to sustain this variety of coffee in a environmentally conscious way. The high altitude and dry climate allow for a high quality coffee with excellent aroma. Ironically, the Peruvians in this region typically don't drink tea (more often herbal teas); hence, CEPICAFE's entire production is exported, mainly to North America.

Known for its its reliability, sincereness, honesty and solidarity with its members, CEPICAFÉ has quite the regional (and national) reputation. The union is devoted to producing and selling high quality coffee, in order to compete with other brands and to allow its member's development. Moreover, all members are democratically involved in the organization which makes for a strong cooperative environment. Each member's involvement also helps improve the union's development.

Organisations like CEPICAFÉ are essential in a country that often prioritizes its commercial enterprises (i.e. mining development) over its people's rights. Despite Peru's position as the one of the leading organic coffee producers in the world, the Peruvian government hasn't done much in the way of supporting groups like CEPICAFE nor its small-scale farmers. But as CEPICAFE gains international and carves out an important space in both a commercial and social sphere within the region, the cooperative concept has proven its value as a sustainable and successfuly mode of development.

Santiago says he'd like the organisation to grow and increase its membership each year so as to help the hundreds of isolated farmers that are still out there. Santiago has witnessed Fair Trade's significant impact on people's life in Peru and believes that it has offered unprecedented opportunities in terms of small-scale farmers being able to market and sell their products abroad. But he also sees the relentless presence of the coca culture has posed a dangerous threat to the coffee production. Coffee is produced in the same areas as coca and often because of either violence or the prospect of better income, farmers are forced to switch to coca. Fair Trade offers a feasible alternative that is safer and legal, where the producer's rights and safety are respected.

To learn more about CEPICAFE, visit their website (Spanish only) or check out their profile.

For more pictures of Santiago's tour, see our photo gallery.
 

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