PERU, PUKA SONCOO

Since 2014, NARSA/COOPERU and Reach Trade have been working together to accelerate access to controlled fermentation equipment and practices for smallholder farmers in the Central Highlands of Peru. Reach Trade believes that through access to new technologies and farm practices, smallholder farmers stand to benefit both through greater profitability and competitive performance.

Puka Soncco, meaning Red Heart in the Quechua language, is a proprietary blend of coffee varietals that are selectivly processed only to meet certain guidelines and microclimate specifications. Reach Trade supports top ranking smallholders with a program that supports them throughout the harvest to produce Puka Soncco. Farmers are invited to work alongside agronomists and learn new techniques so that one day they can sustain their own production at the farm level, and even create their own unique microlot blends. These workshops are conducted by COOPERU as a complimentary service for participating farmers, and cherries are purchased at 20% added premiums to garuntee quality control and reward farmer interest.

In the maiden 2019 harvest, Puka Soncoo was exclusively harvested by the Huachurunto Family. Juan and Ever reside in Alto Sanchirio, and farm at approximately 1850-1870 masl. Today, more than 12 families from 14 pre-qualified farms in three neighboring regions contribute cherries for the program. Two of these families have already applied for COOPERU equipment financing for their own investment in these fermentation and drying technologies.