Tolima, Colombia has been known more for violence in recent decades than specialty coffee. That narrative is changing with the dedicated work of producer groups like ASOPEP which has, against all odds, become one of the most professionalized cooperatives in the region offering consistent, world-class coffees year after year. Not content with just producing excellent coffee, ASOPEP is also a force for good in the region.
 
Impact:
 
 
Living Income Pricing
 
80% of the world’s coffee farmers live below the poverty line and current prices paid to farmers do not meet farmers’ livelihood needs. This coffee was purchased using Bellwether’s Living Income Pricing benchmark which ensures that coffee producers were paid a fair, sustainable wage. By purchasing this coffee you’re helping interrupt poverty among coffee farmers by paying a price that closes the living income gap.
 
Farmer Impact Fund
 
The Farmer Impact Fund further invests in coffee communities through direct balloon payments to producers who have autonomy to use the money on community and farm-level projects. By adding a small surcharge to your green coffee purchase, these funds are directly distributed to farmers, providing a direct connection between you and your customers to the lives of producers for the first time in the coffee industry.
 
Through the Farmer Impact Fund, the ASOPEP cooperative recently held multiple events in coffee growing communities including a coffee cupping competition for youth and a conference focused on practices that improve coffee quality from coffee harvest to post-harvest. Contribute to the Farmer Impact Fund today to continue investing in the producers of this region. Your contribution unlocks marketing materials for you to promote your impact with your customers.