Cooperativa de Caficultores

del Norte de Tolima

Carrera 8, #4-26
Centro, Fresno, Tolima
Colombia

Phone: (+57) 312-506-8739

www.cafinorte.com
E-mail: calidades.cafinorte@gmail.com

70
Years

1947 - 2017

70
Years

www.coopscanada.coop
www.cdfcanada.coop 1947 - 2017
@CDFCanada @CCAIntl
www.impact.coop
 Our Story
In 1971, a group of coffee growers founded CAFINORTE (Farmers
Cooperative of Northern Tolima), hoping to secure guaranteed fair
purchase prices for the coffee grown in their region. Currently, the 431
CAFINORTE members produce Castillo, Colombia, and Catimor
varieties. Although the Cooperative purchases all varieties 70% of the
coffee produced by members is specialty coffee sold through special
programs.
CAFINORTE, with headquarters in the town of Fresno, Tolima,
covers a little less than 10% of the area of influence of the
Cooperativas de Caficultores del Tolima (Coffee Growers Cooperatives
of Tolima), and includes the towns of Fresno, Palocabildo, Herveo,
Flan, and Mariquita. These towns are located between 900 and 1,800
meters above sea level: 65% of the Cooperatives coffee plants are
within the optimum coffee growing range (1,300-1,800 meters), with
27% below 1,300 meters, and the remaining 7% above 1,800 meters.
The Cooperative has a total of 12,471 hectares of coffee plantations,
with an average crop age of about six years. 84% of these crops are
young and technified, or sun-grown, using sun resistant varieties such
as Castillo and Typical.
The Cooperative has offered educational programs to producers,
teaching them to recognize the different flavors of the coffees they
produce. Libardo Martnez Gonzlez, chairman of CAFINORTE,
explains: Were training coffee growers to recognize the flavors of their
coffees, to test each variety, so they can begin to trace their product
and offer it on the international market, for example, to Canada.
CAFINORTE products are certified by FLO, Rainforest Alliance,
and the 4C Code, making them competitive players on the dry
coffee market. In fact, in recent years a large percentage of the
coffee purchased has been this type, which has allowed for premium
payments of up to $60,000 COP above the base price.
Ive participated in several Cup of Excellence contests; in 2015 I
was among the leaders and the cup of coffee from my farm received
top marks, says Mrs. Mara Nubia Gutirrez, coffee grower and
CAFINORTE member.
The towns inside the Cooperatives area of influence showed
remarkable courage and optimism in the face of Colombias armed
conflict, which has affected rural communities throughout the
country. CAFINORTE members suffered from the presence of these
armed actors who destabilized the regional economy.
The majority of coffee growers in CAFINORTE practice multiple
cropping, meaning they grow other products aside from coffee,
having learned over time that it is impossible to make a living from a
single crop. Farmers therefore grow plantain, dragon fruit (pitahaya),
avocados, and bananas on their farms, which contribute significantly
to the family income.
The landscape is one of the regions major strengths, with the Nevado
del Ruiz volcano, the Parque de los Nevados, and the Magdalena
Valley all within close range.