Asopep Mujeres Tolima FW ORG

The "Asociacion de Productores Agropecuarios de Cafe Especial de Planadas" (ASOPEP) was established in 2013. Despite its relatively young age, ASOPEP is a prominent leader in the region. It boasts a larger membership compared to other associations in Tolima and stands as the sole cooperative with a fully integrated infrastructure. This infrastructure enables ASOPEP to oversee all stages of processing, quality control, transportation, and commercialization.

The organization's General Manager, Camilo Enciso, is a respected figure in the region and a staunch advocate for the Planadas cooperatives. His efforts to foster partnerships among various Planadas cooperatives have resulted in heightened market visibility for the region. This has translated into an increased presence at trade shows and coffee-related events nationwide. In 2014, a delegation of representatives participated in events held in Medellin, marking the first time that several young farmers had ventured beyond their region. Enciso possesses a clear vision for strategically positioning Planadas and harnessing the full potential of this distinctive part of Colombia’s coffee-producing landscape.

Despite these achievements, ASOPEP has encountered challenges when it comes to securing financing. The history of violence that once plagued the Tolima region has created a perception of it being a high-risk area for investment. ASOPEP has taken steps to dispel this outdated view by establishing a new reputation for coffee production in the region. This new reputation is built upon values of quality, reliability, and transparency. 

The ASOPEP women’s group comprises 20 women who collectively cultivate 91 hectares of land, yielding an annual coffee production of 165 tons. Many of these women are members of the Asopep Women’s Committee, which is dedicated to facilitating training in financial education, gastronomy and baking, as well as other crafts. The committee has played a pivotal role in the election of the new Board of Directors, with four out of the six board members being women.

The farms where this coffee was grown, are located in Planadas, with two situated between 1,280 and 1,320 meters above sea level (masl), five farms ranging between 1,500 and 1,700 masl, and thirteen farms spanning 1,700 to 2,100 masl. 

The organization's quality control lab meticulously assesses and categorizes lots. The cuppers responsible for this process include a group of enthusiastic young men and women who are eager to learn and contribute to their community.

Sustainable Harvest® is a specialty coffee trader focusing primarily on bringing coffees to market that are sourced from smallholder farmer cooperatives in the supply chain such as indigenous communities, women groups and the next generation of coffee farmers.

Their sourcing model is built on transparency, traceability and direct relationships between quality-minded coff­ee roasters and best-in-class coffee producers. Sustainable Harvest® has an on-site presence at origin with staff­ in Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Peru. Each office coordinates their supply including quality management, supplier relationships, source development, logistics, training and capacity building.