CDF makes a difference - A first-hand account from Peru

After hearing many passionate speakers over the years who have traveled abroad to witness for themselves, how the Co-operative Development Foundation (CDF) and the Canadian Co-operative Association have impacted so many lives, I always hoped that some day I could be part of that experience.  

Well, I can now say, I have seen first-hand, the value these organizations bring to so many communities worldwide. The first week of November this year, I was invited by CDF to travel to Peru with a team of seven co-operators from various co-ops and credit unions across Canada as part of a study tour focused on its Peruvian ag co-op partner - Cooperativa Agraria Norandino LTDA.

Norandino Co-operative is located in the city of Piura, and is supported by over 90 farmer associations comprised of more than 7,000 coffee, sugar cane, cocoa and fruit producers who reside in very poor regions in northern Peru.

CDF launched the Sustainable Produce Diversification Project with Norandino in 2010 to help farmers gain access to local and international markets to provide sustainable income for their families and communities.

One of many sugarcane crushing and drying sites in region of
 Montera, Peru - located on the slopes of the Andes Mountains.

In a short time, through the many efforts of CDF volunteers, funding and hands-on expertise, Norandino has achieved good success in meeting its main objective of improving the quality of life for small farmers in the area. Farmers are now able to receive a decent income for their crops through increased production capacity and operational efficiencies such as the addition of several village-level sugarcane crushing and drying stations throughout the region, investments in new large-capacity automated production plants in Piura, and a greater demand for their products through international Fair Trade markets.

During our visit, we engaged with the managers and directors of Norandino Co-operative to share ideas and learn more about our different worlds, but the highlight for me was visiting the rural farmers up high in the hills. After a long and bumpy road trip,

Cocoa seed-nusery managed  and operated by 
women and youth from the local community.

our study group stopped at one of the co-operative’s farmer-owned member-associations. Not only did this group of local cocoa farmers show up to greet us, but their wives and children gathered all around with welcoming faces. We were most impressed with their strong member-engagement practices. Everything we talk about how best to engage our members, this group seems to have mastered. In this 94 farmer-member association, not only do the men have strong roles, but 40 women and 25 youth are equally engaged in the production process gathering, fermenting, drying, splitting, fertilizer production and the cultivation and nurturing of their own seedling nursery.

It is the whole community that comes together for one common goal and everyone’s role is equally important. The pride and self-satisfaction one feels just witnessing and listening to them tell their story is not only inspiring but as we drove away and headed down the rugged mountain terrain, many of us felt humbled and privileged to have had the opportunity to meet the wonderful and hard-working people that provide us with the luxury and decadence of their award-winning cocoa.

As Norandino management will tell you: “We are not selling cocoa beans, we are selling the origin.”

Sabino Guerrero, project co-ordinator with Norandino
Co-operative demonstrates harvesting sugarcane
and gives us a sweet sample to try.

Whether it is coffee, cocoa or panela (which is brown sugar produced from sugarcane), the finished product from Norandino Co-operative is superb. To fully appreciate the Norandino brand that is regarded as a premium product all over the world, you just need to sample it! The Norandino brand is known as an elite product and is exported to end-users in Germany, France, and Canada through Fair Trade agreements. La Siembra Co-operative, located in Ottawa, is Norandino’s largest importer of panela in Canada.

Going forward, as always there is still work to be done and CDF is moving into the next phase of the project, but for now, it is clear that CDF has been instrumental in providing the momentum Norandino Co-op needed. They now have a select group of preferred clients, investors and supporters that want to see Norandino succeed and expand further. Now that I have met the people behind the operation, there is no doubt in my mind they will thrive.

Coffee-bean farmer and member-owner of Norandino Co-op
talks about how his yields are far superior to his neighbours
because of the services he receives from his co-operative.

As an employee of GROWMARK,Inc. (also a farmer-owned co-operative) that is a long-time supporter of the Co-operative Development Foundation, I can now better understand how our corporate and employee donations truly improve the livelihood for these farmers, their families and communities. The Norandino project in Peru is just one shining example of so many success stories worldwide.