Cacvi
Coffee producer in Peru
High in the Southern Highlands of Peru, where steep valleys and remote communities shape both the landscape and livelihoods, the Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera Valle de Incahuasi (CACVI) is transforming the future of coffee for more than 500 smallholder farmers.
Spread across 14 local committees in the Ayacucho and Cusco regions, CACVI’s 514 members cultivate coffee in one of the country’s most isolated growing areas -– the Incahuasi Valley, where access to markets and fair prices has historically been limited.
Here, just two co-operatives operate, CACVI and fellow Shared Interest customer San Fernando, both playing a vital role in opening fairer, more reliable market opportunities for coffee farmers.
You can read about CACVI in QR 140.
Image: Jhon William Muriel Arias (right), member of CACVI, with a colleague in the mountains of Incahuasi, Peru.
InvestConnecting people, land and culture
Founded in 1997 in the Andahuaylas district of Apurímac, CACVI began as a small association of farmers determined to secure fairer prices and greater control over their livelihoods. By 2005, the organisation had evolved into a co-operative, strengthening its ability to reach international markets and advocate for its members.
Today, its coffee is grown at altitudes between 1,600 and 2,000 metres above sea level and is predominantly produced under Organic standards, contributing to both its quality and sustainability. This commitment was recognised in 2007, when CACVI achieved both Fairtrade and Organic certification, enabling them to export directly and build stronger relationships with global buyers.
In recent years, CACVI has gone even further, developing high-quality Arabica coffee that demands premium prices. With cupping scores of between 84 and 90 on the Specialty Coffee Association scale - significantly above Peru’s average - the co-operative is firmly positioned in the specialty market.
CACVI and Shared Interest
CACVI received finance from Shared Interest since 2017 through the power of our members' ethical investments. Encouraged by favourable growing conditions and improved access to agricultural inputs, production is set to increase significantly, with finance from Shared Interest helping the co-operative to pay for more coffee from its members and maximise these opportunities.
At the heart of CACVI’s success is the deep-rooted knowledge of its farmers, who combine technical expertise with ancestral practices. From traditional offerings to the earth before harvest, to working in Ayni - a system of shared labour built on reciprocity and community - coffee production in Incahuasi reflects a powerful connection between people, land and culture. This balance is also evident in CACVI’s forward-looking approach, with plans to invest in composting facilities and reforestation, ensuring that growth goes hand in hand with environmental stewardship.
Beyond production, the co-operative plays a vital role in supporting its members’ wider wellbeing. Through training, field visits, subsidised inputs such as fertiliser and access to equipment, farmers are equipped to improve both quality and yields. Community initiatives, from medical campaigns to financial assistance in times of need, further strengthen their resilience.
CACVI and Shared Interest Foundation
Alongside financial support, CACVI also participated in a project with our charitable arm, Shared Interest Foundation, to increase the income of 58 young coffee farmers in the district of Inkawasi.
As a result of the project, the young farmers produced dehydrated coffee pulp, which will be used as an ingredient in caffeine-based drinks. Coffee pulp is a by-product obtained from the wet processing of coffee, representing up to 40% of the fruit’s weight. Incorrect disposal of coffee pulp poses environmental threats as it can pollute water sources and farmland. Following the first production cycle, 6,000kg of pulp was produced and sold for the equivalent of £11,297.
Beyond immediate financial gains, the project brought a notable change in mindset among the young coffee farmers. Previously relying on a single cash crop, they are now equipped with the technical and business skills to pursue new income opportunities and to add value to what was previously regarded as agricultural waste.
Susanna Huamān Choque, project participant, said:
Make an ethical investment“Previously, we used pulp to make compost; however, through the project we learned to give it another value as dehydrated pulp. Since this was my first time doing this activity, I delivered three bags of 25 kilos each to the co-operative. This year, I will try to produce more pulp”.
Farmers' Voice Radio and CACVI
Jhon, a member of CACVI, is participating in the Farmers' Voice Radio Academy.
Jhon said:
Back to map“I am a fourth-generation coffee farmer, living in the heart of Peruvian coffee production, and I understand the reality of the rural experience.
“That’s why I’m interested in the Farmers' Voice Radio Academy, with its sole purpose of delivering important messages on new coffee philosophies, agricultural production techniques, as well as health, nutrition, family planning, and other social and cultural issues […] The idea is to connect with producers, and radio is a suitable medium.”