Costa Rica – Alajuela

This coffee is sourced from more than 1,400 producer-members from Palmares, a canton in the province of Alajuela, organized around Cooperativa de Caficultores y de Servicios Múltiples de Palmares (Coopepalmares), a cooperative designed to receive cherries from many small farms and consistently process their coffee into a well-balanced regional blend. The state-of-the-art processing facility with certifications in quality and environmental management from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) utilizes recycled water and the mechanical dryers (guardiolas) recirculate airflow to maximize furnace efficiency. The facility also has an organic fertilizer production plant and a water treatment plant. In addition to exporting coffee, Coopepalmares operates two supermarkets and a hardware store in Palmares, and sells roasted coffee for national consumption. Cooperative members have access to low interest loans and healthcare for their families at the cooperative run health center and mobile clinic.