Peru

The Agroindustrial Tropicals Products Cooperative of Pichanaqui was founded in September 2018 by 12 coffee producer partners to improve the price and quality of their products. The cooperative is now composed of over 160 passionate farmers in and around Pichanaqui, a very scenic part of the greater Chanchamayo region.

The cooperative is led by a team of young professionals, technicians, and administrators who work hard to address the collective needs of their members and the community. They dedicate themselves to preserving and supporting nature through organic and sustainable efforts. Farmers are committed to improving the quality of coffee they produce while adhering to organic standards to protect and conserve biodiversity.

Each step is carefully monitored, from seed selection to nursery propagation and out-planting in the fields, to ensure that the coffee is of high quality and produced sustainably. A selective harvest is performed, followed by adequate processing and fermentation, drying with solar dryers, and proper storage, resulting in a top-quality product.

We have been working with several cooperatives in Pichanaqui region, previously Aproselva and Selva Central but when a lot of core farmers left these Cooperatives to form Agroindustrial Tropicals we followed suit. 2023 will be the first of hopefully many years of fruitful partnership.

The Chanchamayo region is located in the central part of Peru, in the high-altitude Andean mountains, with ideal coffee-growing conditions. The area is known for its rich, fertile soil and consistent temperatures, which contribute to the unique flavour profile of its coffee.

Coffee from Chanchamayo is typically produced using the washed method, which involves removing the skin and mucilage from the coffee cherry before drying. This results in a clean, bright flavour profile with high acidity and a medium to light body. The coffee is also known for its floral and fruit notes, with some typical flavour notes including citrus, bergamot, and stone fruit.

Most coffee in Chanchamayo is grown in small, family-owned farms, with many producers focused on organic and sustainable agriculture practices. The coffee is typically shade-grown, which helps to conserve the region's biodiversity and preserve its natural ecosystem.