COSURCA

COSURA is a secondary-level cooperative currently comprised of eleven producer asociations, one cooperative and three territorial entities or municipalities from the Southern Colombian Macizo mountains in the center and south of the region of Cauca.

The organization was constituted on March 12th 1993 with the objective of furthering the economic development of a region that was largely cut off from the rest of the country due to civil war and political violence. With support from the Alternative Development program of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and through the institutional cooperation of the Integrated Rural Development Program of the Colombian Government, the regional Cauca Government and municipalities in the area, the project sought to offer alternatives to illicit coca production to small farmers in the area in the regions of Souhern Cauca and Northern Nariño by supporting investment projects in campesino communities and in their production. Under the COSURCA umbrella, small farmer organizations now received the support to develop markets for their products, primarily coffee, but also receive financing through a loan and savings program, as well as technical asistance in production.

Since their inception, COSURCA has followed seven core values: Solidarity, Cooperation, Responsability, Honesty, Hard work, Social Engagement and Respect for individuals and Nature.

Currently COSURCA is providing accompaniment and support in the technical, organizational, commercial, political and judicial development of 1500 small farmer families, with an emphasis on organic and fair trade coffee production, food security and self-sufficiency for communities through the production of staple crops, as well as the production and commercialization of tropical fuits for pulp and juices. COSURCA exports fair trade coffee to small and medium wholesale coffee roasters, but also manages its own line of wholesale roasted coffee for the domestic market. As a fundamental tennet of its philosophy of economic development, COSURCA strives to be as inclusive as possible by engaging ethnic minority groups and women in the different projects it implements in its communities. 

Information Courtesy of COSURCA

Tasting profile: Medium bodied, citric acidity, milk chocolate, lemon, caramel and raisin.

Cooperativa del Sur del Cauca

Profile



Varietals Grown:

  • 50% Colombia
  • 40% Castillo
  • 10% Caturra

Social Premium Investment: 2022 Crop Year Fair Trade Certification guarantees 20 cents/lb of the price paid a producer organization is set aside as a social premium. How this money is invested is a decision taken collectively by the general assembly of members at the end of each harvest. Below is a break down of how producers in this organization chose to spend their fair trade premium.

91%
Improve Yields 11 technical assistance and capacity building plans were elaborated for 1462 families (87% of the projected goal). 3 follow-up assessments to each one of the plans. We executed the accompaniment, orientation and internal control for Fair Trade and Organic certifications at 100%
40%
Additional Income Allocated FT premiums from 2021 crop year. 11 organizations elaborated and executed fair trade development plans to invest premiums. 388 follow-up visits were held and apremium execution report was elaborated by COSURCA.
8%
Operations Trained producers associations, in accounting, financial, administrative and comercial subjects. Managed accounting for 11 producer associations with their respective financial reporting. Supported 11 general assemblies, presenting necessary financial statements and tax information on behalf of organizations.
1%
Community Development 85% of associated families, board members and tecnical team partivcipated in productive workshops organizaed by the local team in agroecological production, climate change and strategies for mitigaiton and adaptation , coffee quality workshops as well as accounting, administrative, gender and political workshops.

Recent Projects We Supported:

DateProjectStatusReport
9/18/24COSURCA - Diplomado Sembrando VidaApproved 
6/24/24Strengthening Organic Production for Sustainable Market AccessApproved