Producer ASOPEP cooperative Farm/Mill ASOPEP cooperative Cultivar Typica, Castillo, Caturra Process Washed Location Tolima, Planadas Altitude 1,450 - 2,150 masl Harvest May - July Expect notes of Red Apple, Dark Chocolate, Caramel. Asociación de Productores Egológicos de Planadas (ASOPEP) is a thriving organisation of 168 coffee farming families based in the town of Planadas in the department of Tolima, Colombia. The town of Planadas is located in the foothills of the Cordillera Central, an area with an unusually cool climate that leads to slower maturation of coffee cherries, and therefore higher sweetness. ASOPEP was founded in 2013 with the mission of "creating opportunities for the personal growth of its members, protecting the environment, innovating in commercial business processes, and always being in the vanguard of specialty coffee producers worldwide." The cooperative is now certified organic and Fair Trade, and it takes a strict attention to detail in cultivation, harvesting, and processing. ASOPEP's coffee is consistently high quality, and it has earned premiums for this reason. One of the things that sets ASOPEP apart from other coffee cooperatives is its focus on education and youth involvement. The cooperative has a youth collective that trains young people in cupping, quality control, and barista skills. The collective also travels throughout Colombia to participate in trade shows. ASOPEP's efforts to educate and empower young people have helped to transform the town of Planadas and reduce the risk of youth recruitment by the FARC. ASOPEP is a shining example of a successful coffee cooperative. The cooperative has achieved its mission of creating opportunities for its members, protecting the environment, and innovating in business. ASOPEP's coffee is a delicious and sustainable choice!
