Guillermo Campa, IJATZ coop: It's Not Just About Coffee

Posted: 15 March 2006

by Andrea Perera

SAN LUCAS TOLIMAN, GUATEMALA—The headquarters of the IJATZ coffee cooperative look like an ecotourism spot in the making.

Bamboo fences mark off flourishing vegetables gardens. Dirt bridges cross neatly dug-out canals. And in the middle of the property, next door to a bustling kitchen, a concrete gazebo provides some welcome shade.

This is the reality of one successful fair trade coop. Not only has the money in the bank helped IJATZ members diversify by planting vegetables for their own consumption and sale, but it's also helped the coop transform its property into the site of a future top-notch restaurant.

IJATZ did all this, after paying their members a good and fair price for their coffee.

"Being part of fair trade, it is not just about coffee," said Guillermo Campa, president of IJATZ coop. "We also have advantages in our social lives."

The canals and land bridges on IJATZ property are actually a result of some creative flood prevention projects. The coop got the land from a local parish. But it wasn't considered valuable because it was at the base of several hills, making it a muddy mess. The idea to terrace the land came from other organizations within the fair trade network.

IJATZ worked with the farmers in the hills to plant coffee trees that prevent runoff. And they dug out canals to channel the rest of the water into their organic gardens. They built the gazebo and kitchen with money from their fair trade premium.

Now it's on to the next project.

"It will help if we can have a dry mill," Campa said. "We need to think about how to make the coop stronger."

Next: Small Business Training Helps Fair Trade Coops Remain Competitive