Triunfo Verde cooperative

The story

The cooperative was formed in the late 1990s by small groups of producers seeking better resources and financing to combat poor market prices. Over 25 years later, the organization continues to support its members through technical training, micro-loans, and marketing efforts while operating within the protected El Triunfo Biosphere.

Challenges

The cooperative has faced significant hardships, including the impact of coffee leaf rust, hurricanes, and volatile market prices, which producers collectively described as a perfect storm that severely reduced yields and quality.

Innovations

The cooperative promotes sustainable agroforestry by integrating coffee with native shade trees to protect biodiversity and soil health. They also provide extensive technical training in pruning, pest control, and post-harvest processing to increase quality and economic sustainability.