Born in the early 2000s from protest and unrest, when leaders of the municipio of El Tambo (the third largest by area in all of Colombia) fought back against their government and demanded the construction of better roads, aqueducts, and schools, Orgánica has always maintained a philosophy centered around autonomy. When the FNC’s “Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca” approached Nelson Melo, the former manager of COSURCA, to start an organic program in the local FNC cooperative, it didn’t take long for the first group of members to begin the organic transition process. By 2003 they were formally incorporated as an association, separate from the FNC, and by 2004 they obtained their organic certification, spanning the municipios of Popayan, Timbío,Tambo, and Piendamó. 

Since then, they’ve honed their strong focus on quality production, further propelled by their commercial partnership with Alejandro Cadena and his company, the exporter Virmax/Caravela. Through the exporter, they were able to develop direct commercial relations with roasters, as well as receive support and guidance to set up their internal quality systems. They also strive to keep a very lean organization, with 97% of export revenues going directly to producers; with the remainder going toward taxes and accounting fees. Nelson Melo still volunteers his time without claiming a salary.

In all, Orgánica is composed of a tightly knit group of 104 friends and neighbours, organized into 13 groups spanning over 60.58 hectares of certified production across four municipios. Each group is considered an “experience exchange and quality control group” that convenes periodically to discuss matters of production and quality control. The internal control system for their organic production is conducted by these groups. Members meet regularly, holding a general assembly every quarter to discuss different aspects of their business. In order to maintain their cohesion, Orgánica members practice four crucial tenets: unity, a commitment to transparency, commitment to democracy, and commitment to quality.  Their mandates are twofold: 1) improve the quality of life for the families, and 2) improve the quality of the coffee.

To advance their work, the association focuses on five “axes” of action:

1. Developing resilience against climate change

2. Promoting participation of the children of members

3. Maintaining quality production

4. Recovering quality of soils

5. Setting up community “Biofábricas”, or organic composting and fertilizer manufacturing facilities.

Coop Coffees first partnered with Orgánica in 2015 and helped invest, through their Impact Fund, in the building of their Biofábricas composting and fertilizing facility in 2020.

Impact Work