GRAPOS – GRUPO DE ASESORES DE PRODUCCIÓN
ORG??NICA Y SUSTENTABLES

GRAPOS is a small coffee producer organization located near the town of Tapachula in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. The organization represents small coffee farmers, most of whom come from the communities of Unión Juárez, Cacahoatan, and Tapachula, all within Chiapas. GRAPOS provides essential services to its members including access to finance, technical assistance and community development programs. According to the organization, Fair Trade has helped the cooperative become more organized.

Quotable

Programs

Producer Organizations

To empower and strengthen the capacity of coffee cooperative, GRAPOS provided training to 18 staff on cooperative good governance. Simultaneously GRAPOS worked to build and strengthen the cooperative’s organizational capacity for financial accountability, strategic planning and supply chain management.

Productivity & Quality

As part of GRAPOS’ successful rust-resistance program, they were able to give away one 1 high-producing, rust-resistant plant per every 30 bags sold to the cooperative by its members.

In order to maintain optimal growing conditions, GRAPOS members are encouraged to renovate their coffee trees, use fertilizer, implement soil conservation measures, and manage shade levels. The adoption of these sustainable practices by smallholder coffee growers has become an important rural development objective, especially as a way to overcome low yields, poverty, and land degradation.

Farmer Finances

GRAPOS conducted five cooperative and farm manage-ment trainings to support seasonal workers and producers with farming challenges.