APECAFORM

APECAFORM (Asociación de Pequeños Caficultores Orgánicos Maya-Mames) is comprised of 400 members living in 19 communities. The coop is located in the Southwestern Highlands of San Marcos, on the slopes of Volcano Tajumulco, and was founded in 1992. A Central Board of Directors guides and executes the main activities of Apecaform and coordinates tasks with five Local Boards of Directors, based in community centers. In addition, 21 local promoters coordinate and conduct technical trainings to improve organic agricultural practices, and to facilitate commercialization and a variety of social projects.

APECAFORM has been in certified organic production since 2002. There are now 266 members under certification and 80 percent of their total production goes to the the Fair Trade market for sale. Through a strategic credit partnership between EcoLogic, Apecaform, and Cooperative Coffees (our green coffee buying group), producers have been able to increase direct Fair Trade sales to a variety of global buyers.

Achievements from the fair trade premiums include purchasing land and constructing a warehouse in Malacatan, creating a community fund to support their network of organic promoters and coordinators, and installing a wet mill and dry processing plant to make production more effective.

We are currently working on two projects with APECAFORM. The first is construction of a wet processing plant in each of the five community centers. The second is to administer a timely credit fund capable of offering producers adequate pre-financing.