Colombia Multicoop Fairtrade Organic comes to us from the municipality of Bilbao in the department of Tolima, Colombia. This certified coffee is produced by 1,100 member producers of Multicoop, from the areas of Planadas, Chaparral, and Rioblanco.
Colombia Multicoop Fairtrade Organic is manually harvested to ensure careful selection of quality ripe cherry. Once harvested, the coffee is fermented in concrete tanks for 18 to 48 hours. The fermentation process is carefully monitored to prevent overfermentation and achieve the development of complex flavor compounds. Next, the beans are washed, removing all remaining mucilage. Finally, the beans are sun-dried on parabolic structures made of bamboo as well as on producer’s rooftops, making use of local climate conditions and available space.
About Multicoop
The Multicoop association was created when farmers from Planadas, Chaparral, and Rioblanco came together to certify and market their coffee under an umbrella scheme, combining technical and administrative efforts with other associations. This approach has allowed for smaller groups to market their coffee transparently. For example, under this model several women’s associations have emerged, each finding its own way to strengthen their coffee cultivation practices as well as their household economies. Through a strategic alliance with universities and financial institutions, Multicoop has established a Business Strengthening project which provides support in key business management processes. Specialized training and business practices allow participants to improve their knowledge and build skills to manage their businesses more effectively.
