
Federacion Campesina del Cauca
Cauca, Colombia
Meet FCC
In 1971, a group of idealistic coffee farmers started a coffee-producing organization with a clear purpose. They would help smallholder producers, providing them with agronomy training to improve the quality of their coffee. They would protect these farmers’ rights to own their land during what would become a tumultuous time in Colombia. And through these efforts, they would develop these farmers into young leaders in the community.
Quick Facts
Location: Popayán, Cauca, Colombia
Altitude: 4,900 feet
Varieties: Pacas, Castillo, Caturra, Colombia, Typica, Maragogipe, Tabi
Certifications: Fair Trade, Organic
That producing organization was Federación Campesina del Cauca. Better known as FCC, the cooperative is located in the rolling hills of southwestern Colombia’s Cauca Department. What started as a small group of farmers has now grown into a membership of 683 smallholder producers, 29 percent of which are women farmers. The co-op has been fair trade certified since 2003, and under the leadership of general manager Don Herney Chaguendo, began the Specialty Coffee Program, which has helped the co-op improve its quality and in turn quickly establish itself as an important player in the global specialty-coffee market.

