CAC
La Prosperidad
de Chirinos
Chirinos was established in the 1960’s and now has 485 farmer members – quite a few more than the original 36. The farmers were among the first to supply coffee to Cafédirect in 1991. As a gesture of solidarity and faith in the vision of Cafédirect, they accepted delayed payment for their coffee for this first shipment.
Since we started working with Chirinos, the coffee market internationally has become more demanding for farmers to grow high quality beans. To support them we’ve set up and run quality control workshops and assisted with management and financial planning. 40% of the Fairtrade premium has been ploughed back into technology to further improve quality and marketing to drive sales, while local education and healthcare initiatives also benefit. The other 60% is paid out to individual members as second payments for their coffee.
Most members of Chirinos are involved in the organic coffee programme and the co-operative actively encourages sustainable agricultural practices. Part of the Cafédirect Fairtrade premium has been used to cover the costs of the organic technician and organic training sessions.
Chirinos is committed to improving quality control and ensuring only the best coffee is selected. They have recently constructed a tasting laboratory and are developing their skills in this area further.
If you would like to try their coffee, but can’t find it in your local store visit our online shop.
Orestes Adrianzen
Founding Member and 1st President of La Prosperidad de Chirinos, Peru
“On the 28th February 1968 on a very rainy afternoon, we decided to set up this co-operative La Prosperidad de Chirinos. We founded it with 36 members, but why did we establish the co-operative? We were all coffee farmers wanting to sell our own coffee.
At that time, the coffee price was very low and the government didn’t offer us any support. So we feel very happy that the business we created has gone from strength to strength. And indeed, we want you (Cafédirect) to keep visiting us always to give us advice to help guide us and give us feedback on our coffee which was the reason we organised ourselves to begin with.
The position of small farmers has been strengthened; we’ve received training and made progress. And all of this makes me very happy. “