PRONATUR, Peru

About the Co-op:

Date established: 1998
Number of members: 1,670
Products: Coffee, Bananas, Mangoes
Organic Production: 100%

About the Bananas:

Varieties: Cavendish
Harvest season: Year-round
Export season: Year-round
Annual production: 3 containers/week

PRONATUR was established in 1998 when 21 coffee-producing groups with 304 growers scattered in the Alto Maye valley on the eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes united. The name PRONATUR is an abbreviation for "Promoter of Natural Agriculture". Since its inception, the group has been dedicated to sustainable organic agriculture in this area of highland rainforest. The cooperative strives to reduce forest degradation by eliminating the wide-spread use of slash-and-burn agriculture and respecting primary and old-growth forest. They have introduced education programs for growers that emphasize quality and ecological sustainability, as well as various other programs that benefit growers and their communities.

PRONATUR quickly expanded to include nearby regions and other products like bananas, mangoes, squash, and other exotic fruit.

PRONATUR has used its revenues to invest in:

Environmental benefits: PRONATUR runs extensive grower education adn agricultural research programs that promote sustainable agricultural methods.

Quality Improvement: PRONATUR also trains members in quality improvement, and many of the sustainable farming methods members use also result in better quality products.

Education: The organization has constructed four preschools for grower communities and has implemented nutritional programs in area schools.

Community development: PRONATUR has aided women's commitees in starting organic vegetable gardening, aimed at complementing and improving the nutritional value of their accustomed daily diet. The co-op also supports community health programs.