Asociación Provincial de Cafetaleros Solidarios San Ignacio
- 436 smallholder coffee growers
- Located in San Ignacio in Northern Peru, 1500km from the capital Lima
- Partners with Cafédirect since 2001
Aprocassi was formed in order to provide a different source of income for communities in the local area of San Ignacio region. The mining industry was causing extensive environmental contamination and negatively impacting the communities’ way of life. APROCASSI farmers have been dedicated to growing coffee in environmentally friendly ways ever since. For example, the farmers have been trained to make organic compost from the coffee pulp and other natural waste products such as manure. As well as being good for the environment, this rich, nutrious compost also improves the quality of their coffee.
The farmers of APROCASSI also have a special technique of pruning. Coffee plants need to be pruned every year to remain in the best condition and produce the highest quality beans, but pruning can also mean reducing productivity that year. So at Aprocassi, pruning is done only on half of the tree so that the other half still has a good yield. Then the following year, the other half gets pruned. That way quality is at its best and productivity is maintained.