COCAFCAL (Cooperativa Cafetalera Capucas Limitada) was one of the first registered coffee cooperatives in Honduras. Founded in 1999 by Omar Rodríguez Interiano, the cooperative presently has over 950 members across the department of Copán.
From the beginning stages, they obtained both Organic and Fairtrade certifications. In addition to certification, COCAFCAL offers education, technical and financial assistance to its members. (This can include access to organic fertilizers, training in reforestation and conservation and assistance diversifying income.) Additionally, COCAFCAL provides its members with infrastructure including a large solar drying complex as well as a coffee nursery. The cooperative even operates a coffee shop and roasting business, in which they train their members to help them better understand the larger supply chain. The cooperative also makes regular and significant investments in the local community, including road repair, funding field schools for producers and soccer programs for local children.
Each year since 2008, COCAFCAL invites local small-holder producers to participate in a microlot competition. This event helps highlight the quality of these coffees and also serves to expand the cooperative, bringing in new members each year, all of whom are all producing excellent coffee.
