Asociacion san martin
Asociacion San Martin: Coffee Producer based in Peru
Deep in the northern jungle of Peru, the combination of unique microclimates and a close proximity to the Andes Mountains offers high altitudes and fertile soils, making San Martin a perfect region for growing coffee.
Home to thousands of coffee farmers who depend upon the crop for their livelihood, San Martin has 87,163 coffee growing hectares and produces 82,319 tons of coffee per year.
Image: Employees of Asociacion San Martin
Generations of Growth
Located in Moyobamba district, Asociacion San Martin are an Organic and Fairtrade coffee producing co-operative working with over 600 farmers, 32% of whom are women.
Founded in 2017, the co-operative offers training and technical support to members as a way of increasing their yields. This not only helps farmers expand their overall production, but it also provides them with an additional income.
The initial objective of the co-operative was to support farmers to avoid unfair prices offered by local intermediaries and enable farmers better access to international markets. They started to export directly in 2018, and obtained
Fairtrade and Organic certification that same year. New members have joined the co-operative rapidly since its formation – some attracted by President Gerardo Zamora, a well-known personality in the region. Gerardo leads a team of employees made up of the sons and daughters of coffee farmers.
Passing down knowledge from generation to generation, Gerardo’s father also led a co-operative in the region, and many of the farmers were attracted to Asociacion San Martin because of the family name.
The Impact of your Ethical Investment
Asociacion San Martin have been a customer of Shared Interest since 2022, when they approached us for a loan to prefinance coffee contracts with international buyers.
Founder and President Gerardo Zamora, said:
“The main benefit of the finance is that the farmers can receive their payments on time with a good and fair price. This allows the farmers to have a better life quality and continue producing.
Speaking on Fairtrade Premiums, Gerardo said:
“The Fairtrade Premium improves the life quality of the farmers with the projects executed every year. Also, Fairtrade allows you to reach several international markets which could give you better margins and, therefore, better payment to the farmers for their coffee.”
Image: Asociacion San Martin President Gerardo Zamora (R) pictured with Shared Interest Lending Manager Bruno Biaggi Vidal (L) and Customer Representative Marcelo Cordova (C).
Cultivating Change
In 2021, the organisation won a project led by the Ministry of Agriculture, with the objective of increasing the level of productivity and improving the capacities of small producers to sell their products to the certified specialty coffee market.
Gerardo continued:
“The farmers associated to the Asociacion San Martin have access to technical assistance (in-house), credits with Agrobanco (national bank for agriculture), a better price for their products due to Fairtrade and Organic certifications, and to a development annual plan with the projects executed with the Fairtrade Premium.”