Producers in Colombia

The remote farmers of Colombia supply some of the highest quality coffee in the world. In the highest reaches of the Andes Mountains 1200 such farmers collectively make up the Aguadas Coffee Co-operative. This is one of the oldest co-ops in Colombia and has been supply the Co-operative own brand with the finest washed Arabica coffee since 2003 when the entire range became Fairtrade.

The benefits of our commitment, delivered via Fairtrade premiums are visible across the entire coffee growing region. As well as community benefits such as schools and quality/ training labs, Fairtrade continues to support individual people. The very poorest families have their children’s meals provided at school and many of the farmers have received tools and equipment. Such is the impact of Fairtrade here that children learn about the system in school along with their lessons on agronomy and coffee growing.

Jaime Florez a regional representative of the Aguadas Co-operative says; ‘We really appreciate that in the UK, The Co-operative, its members and its customers are supporting Fairtrade and making sure we get fair prices for our coffee. We ask that this continues. Thank you for buying Fairtrade, we appreciate it very much and hope you will continue to support us’

Fairtrade at work

Our Fairtrade Strategic Development Manager, Brad Hill, travels to Colombia to find out how Fairtrade is making a real difference to the lives of coffee growers.

Over the course of his trip, Brad meets a coffee processor and co-operative who have been supplying some of our Fairtrade coffee for the last five years, along with five projects who have benefitted from our investment.


Brad's blog - day one