Coope Dota R.L. Coope Dota R.L Cooperativa de Caficultores de Dota R.L.

History

On October 14, 1960, 96 growers created one of the most successful cooperative in the region, Coopedota R.L, with a capital of 116,000 colones and economic support from the Banco Nacional de Costa Rica.

During those 45 years, Coopedota R.L has modernized its production process and increase farmer memberships. Due this changes, Coopedota R.L had increased its quantity of coffee. Indeed, Coopedota R.L has a produced an average of 64.500 qq in the last three years.

Nowadays, Coopedota R.L sees itself as one of the most modern coffee mill in the country, thanks to optimum growing techniques and the most eficient wet and drying process.

Geographic Characteristics

Coope Dota R.L is located at around 1h 30 mn south of San José in the Tarrazu coffee region. In Santa Maria agriculture is 100% dedicated to producing only coffee. ► Tarrazú is divided into 3 coffee counties: Dota, San Marcos de Tarrazú and León Cortes.

► Average annual rainfall of 2400 millimeters (100 inches).

► Soil is mainly volcanic.

Structure

Coopedota R.L is composed by 836 farmers.

► The Assembly of General Associates: The cooperative’s supreme authority.

► The Board of directors: Its members only have power to make decisions as a group, not as individuals.

► Surveillance Committee: formed by three associates of the cooperative, the surveillance committee oversees administration and fiscal matters of the cooperative and reports its findings to the General Assembly.

► Education and Welfare Committee: Formed by three associates assuring that the training and education facilities in the cooperative are in good condition, they also develop social welfare projects that benefit the associates of the Cooperative and their families.

► General Manager: Legally represents the Cooperative and is the person in charge of carrying out the agreements made by the Advising Administration, also administers the business of the Cooperative

► Accounting Department: Responsible for all of the financial records.

► Supply Department: Distributes products though sales to the cooperative’s associates

► Production Department: Responsible for the production plant processes.

► Roasting Department: The Roasting plant was started in 1997.

► General Manager: Don Roberto Mata Naranjo

Social and Environment

Social

In Dota area the agriculture is devoted to the coffee production only. Since the Coope Dota R.L foundation in 1960, coffee became the culture of people and became the main economic resource. Due to this context, CoopeDota R.L makes efforts to have one of the best coffees, considering the involvement of all the community. Coope Dota R.L is the core of the area, developing a real dynamism in the region.

Coopedota R.L offers several social assistances to the community through diverse means.

Internal (Members and Workers of The Company = Active)

Technical Assistance to The Farmers

► Engineer Service: Help farmers in their coffee productions

► Supplied Store: Sell agrochemical products at a descent price for coffee farmers.

Specific Farms:

► Nursery, “model” farm.

Information Training:

► Documents about specific theme (erosion, shadow), info tour through a training day.

Health Assistance

►Financial aids for deaths – accident case

► Health insurance

► Orthopedic

► Furniture

Extern (Community = Inactive in The Coffee Business)

Donations ► Scholarship

► Furniture gifts to school

► Old house donation: 2 million colones annually

Main Activities

► Copa Café Quetzal: Soccer tournament which the benefit goes to the community (church, school)

► Cooperative Tour: Free for students

Environment

► Coffee mill

► Used of recycle water (used for coffee process)

► No used of wood for ovens in drying machines

► Division recycle and no recycle waste

►Used of the chemical product providing from the pulp to produce ethanol

► Don’t put away polluted water

► Cherry pulp used for fertilizer

Banned agrochemical products in order to respect environment.

www.coopedota.com