19/10/2026
"Before joining COOPARM, I was getting ripped off selling my coffee to street traders"
When the Trade Aid team visited COOPARM (Cooperativa Argaria Rodríguez de Mendoza) in Peru's Amazonas region earlier this year, we met coffee farmer Epifanio Arista (📸 Image 1) and heard firsthand how being a part of the co-operative has changed things for him and his family.
Epifanio has been a COOPARM member since 2007, growing coffee with his family on three hectares of land near Cochamal. Before joining, he was vulnerable to traders who would under-weigh his coffee or, in some cases, pay with counterfeit money. As a member of COOPARM, Epifanio has access to fair payment, community initiatives, and technical support from agronomists, helping him to improve his livelihood and the quality of his production.
The COOPARM difference goes beyond fair coffee trading, it allows members to invest in what matters most. For Epifanio, fair payment helps fund his children's education (his eldest son, 19, is now studying agronomy in Chachapoyas).
"I want to maintain the environment, and to be able to pass this farm onto my sons" Epifanio told us.
We also learned about the wider impact of COOPARM on its members and community. The co-operative has 549 members, and its newly elected board has, for the first time, more women than men.
For member Carmen Soto Lopez, the benefits are clear:
"Most of us have children, and as a priority we save money to fund their studies. We can now also eat better and get better health care."
COOPARM's women's group is also looking at how it can tackle the other local challenges, including poor dental health and access to dental services.
That's what sits behind fair trade: real people, community focused initiatives, and the opportunity to build something better for the next generation.
Big thanks to the Cooperativa Agraria Rodríguez De Mendoza team for your warm hospitality ❤️
We loved our time with you and can't wait to see you again soon!
