Sol&Café is a cooperative representing farmer families across the regions of San Ignacio and Jaén in Cajamarca, Peru. The cooperative was founded in 2005, bringing together 27 producer groups with support from Caritas Jaén, a Catholic social service and humanitarian organization, and member of Caritas Internationalis. Sol&Café quickly acquired the necessary organic and fair trade certifications in order to sell directly to North American and European coffee markets, and now have an office, warehouse, and quality control lab in Jaén.
Sol&Café is one of the largest and most professional farmer cooperatives in Peru. They are a reliable supply partner thanks to their excellent communication, quality control, and services to their members, who frequently win quality competitions in Peru and abroad.
The cooperative has 47 participating farmers in the Cool Farm Tool Pilot Project.
Founded 2005
988 Members, 869 Organic
1200-2200 m
Jaén, Cajamarca,
Peru
2540 Organic ha
Avg Farm Size: 3ha
April-December
Varieties
Catimor, Caturra, Bourbon,
Typica, Catuai, Pache...
Fair Trade
Organic
Washed
Medium-bodied, brown sugar, plum, carob, nougat
Building on years of work taking inventory of shade tree age and diversity among members, Sol&Café has contributed research and satellite data to AgriCircle in addition to using the Cool Farm Tool. The organization believes that recognizing the economic value of all activities in the agroforestry system, from organic fertilization to shade tree management, is critical for making coffee environmentally sustainable in the long-term.
Sol&Café results average slightly carbon-negative. As the organization is focused on adding value to farmers’ compensation, the organization seeks to balance potential avenues for income diversification and productivity increases with environmental performance.
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Sol&Café has used environmental service premiums from this project to continue their tree inventory and build the baseline for potential income-generating opportunities of shade trees. Beyond carbon accounting, the organization will continue partnering to develop fair compensation models for farmers’ ecosystem services.
Jose Renulfo worries about increased drought. To safeguard production, shade trees are vital for temperature regulation and soil moisture retention. Jose Renulfo embraces planting native tree species, which enrich the soil by providing organic matter for microorganisms to decompose.
Previously, coffee production followed artisanal methods. However, with technical assistance from Sol y Café, Jose Renulfo now produces higher-quality coffee for better prices, ensuring it is healthy for all, from local biodiversity to consumers.
His Cool Farm Tool footprint underscores the importance of nutrient-rich soil for both coffee quality and carbon storage.
