NIKARAGUA ESTELI BIO + FAIRTRADE

The Prodecoop coffee cooperative (Promotora de Desarrollo Cooperativo de Las Segovias) in Esteli, in northern Nicaragua, was founded in 1993 and received FAIRTRADE certification that same year. Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the world, so it is especially important here that producers are guaranteed minimum prices for their beans through the FAIRTRADE system, among other things, and that investments are made in social services and infrastructure.

Since its founding, the additional funds raised through FAIRTRADE certification have been invested in building knowledge about coffee production, helping to maintain a high level of coffee quality. Small-scale farmers have gained better access to specialty coffee markets and established stable, long-term business relationships with coffee buyers. Almost 30% of PRODECOOP's members are women. The cooperative federation consists of 38 smaller cooperatives with 2,300 members.

Along with producing truly good coffee, its goals include promoting equality between women and men and improving the quality of life of coffee producers and their families through projects that encourage further training and income diversification. PRODECOOP operates a central dry mill and a cupping lab, where the coffee is processed and prepared for export.

For years, our single-origin organic FAIRTRADE Nicaragua has been popular with customers who enjoy a milder coffee brewed in a French press, with a fairly creamy, spicy body. As a drip coffee, it is classically dry; as an espresso, it can show a little acidity, like most single-origin Arabicas, although not as intensely as the coffees in our limited modern line, which are generally best suited to drip brewing.