Touring Norandino: Peruvian Coffee & Cacao Cooperative

Our founder, Bob Gerner, recently returned from a tour of Peruvian Co-op Norandino. He went with Josué, who was a barista in The Annex, his wife Natali as well as Bob’s goddaughter, Yuliana.

Norandino supplies Equal Exchange with coffee as well as many of our chocolate brands with cacao. They sell to many manufacturers and importers. They are located in the northern Peruvian city and province of Piura.

The Natural Grocery Company has carried their coffee through Equal Exchange since the 1990s. In 2003 they hosted Bob for a week on a coffee farm in the village of Coyona. They also hosted one of our customers, who won our 25th anniversary contest of a trip to Peru in 2007.

They are what is known as a 2^nd-level cooperative. They are owned by many 1^st-level cooperatives. When Bob visited there in 2003 he thinks they had over 90 1^st-level cooperatives in their organization. Each cooperative has one vote, and they elect the President of Norandino. Norandino is more of a marketing and processing cooperative and provides funding and organic services for the 1^st-level cooperatives. 1^st-level cooperatives are usually on the village level, maybe 50 to 200 families.

Norandino

July 11 at 5:30 AM

Hay visitas que se convierten en tradición y amistades que trascienden el tiempo

Algunas relaciones comerciales nacen de un negocio. Las más valiosas nacen de la confianza y se fortalecen con los años.

Con mucha alegría, la Cooperativa Agraria Norandino recibió nuevamente la visita de Robert Gerner, fundador de The Natural Grocery Company de California (EE. UU.), un gran aliado y amigo de nuestra organización que, una vez más, volvió para reencontrarse con el origen de los productos que llegan a los consumidores de su país.

Durante su recorrido por nuestras plantas de panela, café y cacao, Robert pudo conocer los avances de Norandino, compartir con nuestro equipo y reafirmar el compromiso que nos une desde hace muchos años: llevar al mundo productos de alta calidad que nacen del esfuerzo de miles de familias productoras.

La visita fue acompañada por el equipo del Área de Mercado Local, liderado por Maribel Jaramillo, en un espacio de diálogo, intercambio de experiencias y renovación de una alianza basada en la confianza, el comercio justo y el respeto por quienes cultivan la tierra.

Gracias, Robert, por volver a Norandino. Porque cuando un amigo regresa al origen, confirma que las mejores alianzas no solo perduran en el tiempo… también siguen creciendo.

Some visits become tradition and friendships that last a lifetime.

Some business relationships are born from a shared business. The most valuable ones are born from trust and grow stronger over the years.

With great joy, the Norandino Agricultural Cooperative once again received a visit from Robert Gerner, founder of The Natural Grocery Company in California (USA), a great ally and friend of our organization who once again returned to reconnect with the origin of the products that reach consumers in his country.

During his tour of our panela, coffee, and cocoa plantations, Robert was able to learn about the progress of Norandino, share experiences with our team, and reaffirm the commitment that has been between us for many years: to bring high-quality products that come from the effort of thousands of producer families.

The visit was accompanied by the Local Market Team, led by Maribel Jaramillo, in a space of dialogue, exchange of experiences, and renewal of a partnership based on trust, fair trade, and respect for those who cultivate the land.

Thank you, Robert, for coming back to Norandino. Because when a friend returns to the origin, it confirms that the best alliances not only last over time… they also continue to grow.

Norandino

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