Federación Campesina del Cauca (FCC) was founded in 1971 as a vital support network for small-scale coffee producers and their families. Formed by five local farming associations, FCC represents and protects small producers’ rights and ensures they earn a living income. Today, the cooperative sources organic, Fair Trade coffee from 483 smallholder farmers operating in the region, over 30% of whom are women. The first coffee enterprise in Colombia to export with Fair Trade, it ensures its members premium prices. It sells its high-quality, 100% Fair Trade beans to local clients and international businesses in Europe and Asia.
In a region with limited access to education and technical knowledge, the FCC provides comprehensive training to coffee producers and their families. As members of FCC, farmers receive ongoing support to complete organic and Fair Trade certifications and implement long-term sustainable farming methods that strengthen their traditional practices and the quality of the coffee they grow.
One of these methods is crop diversification, a natural way to improve soil health and coffee plant quality. FCC supports its members to exchange native seeds to plant banana, yuca, corn, and citrus fruits alongside their coffee trees. The cooperative also encourages agroforestry methods, such as growing crops in forested areas, which provides coffee trees with shade and prevents soil erosion.
Close to 160 of the farming families that FCC supports are led by women, and the organisation works to support women across all areas of coffee farming. From growing and harvesting beans to making key decisions and managing operations, women are encouraged to take on significant roles within the organisation, with women currently occupying 40% of positions on the FCC management team.
