The 71 farmer co-operatives that make up the Promoter of Co-operative Development in the Segovia’s (PRODECOOP) are known for their extraordinary ability to prevail in the midst of countrywide chaos and are a testimony to the power that small-scale farmers have when they organize in a co-operative. For example, when bank representatives threatened foreclosure on a farmer's land, 30 local co-ops demanded negotiations between the bank and the farmer and issued their own threat of nonpayment on their loans. By virtue of their size and financial clout, the members were able to force the bank to back down and renegotiate the farmer's loan. PRODECOOP has grown to 2,420 active members and ships more than 50 containers a year.
Proceeds from coffee sold to Bridgehead have aided PRODECOOP in providing the economic stability necessary to survive amidst the unstable political and economic environments of the 1990s. In 1999, Bridgehead, along with its customers and community sellers, raised $5000 to help PRODECOOP’s members repair the extensive damage done by Hurricane Mitch and get their coffee to market.
PRODECOOP organic beans can be enjoyed in our Nicaraguan Light and Dark roasts.
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