AGRO-ECOTOURISM

Coocafe

Coocafe is in Alajuela province. This consortium of Coffee Cooperatives of Guanacaste & Montes de Oro, was created in 1988 when six remote co-ops in Costa Rica banded together to tackle their shared struggles as small-scale coffee farmers. Soon they launched a program of economic diversification and improved management to both raise and stabilize their incomes. In 1991, Equal Exchange met with COOCAFE and helped them explore what more could be possible with fair trade. Since then, the success of cooperative work and fair trade has been remarkable. COOCAFE has been able to secure higher incomes and provide needed services to its members.

The farmers have since expanded into new crops and business activities, such as Coocafé Tour and become successful exporters. At the same time, COOCAFE can count on fair trade organizations like Equal Exchange to purchase over four million pounds of coffee each year at guaranteed prices. These beans are an excellent example of top-quality Costa Rican coffee, noted for its balanced acidity. During the COOCAFE tour they will give you a lecture about the environmental impact and commercialization of coffee. After this explanation you will get the opportunity to taste this delicious coffee.