São Paulo – The Special Coffee Association of the Pioneering North of Paraná (Acenpp) should establish a cooperative to manage foreign sales of 100 associated producers. According to the president at Acenpp, Luiz Fernando de Andrade Leite, foreign sales are currently to Europe and the United States and are through trading companies.
"We already have a warehouse and necessary machinery, with the help of the Federal Government. Our idea is to receive the coffee from associates, to pack it under its own brand (Special Coffee from the Pioneering North of Paraná) and to negotiate directly with national and international buyers," he said.
Producers associated to the Acenpp, mostly small and medium coffee farmers, pick around 80,000 bags of coffee a year. Special coffee is recognised through certification that evaluates several attributes like aroma, flavour and acidity.
"The association guides and prepares properties to supply the demands that guarantee the UTZ Certified stamp, one of the main programs for coffee certification on the international market," he explained. "Certification alone guarantees that the coffee is produced in conformity with market and consumer demands," he pointed out.
According to the president, coffee with greater quality is more appreciated on the market. The difference in the price of a commercial coffee and one of higher quality may be as high as 50%. This means addition of 50 to 150 Brazilian reals (US$ 30 to US$ 90) per bag of coffee sold. This expansion makes the difference and benefits small producers.
According to the president, the demand for different coffee has been rising in a considerable manner in countries that consume the beverage, like, for example, the United States, Germany, Spain and Japan.
In April, the Acenpp should participate in a sector fair in Houston, Texas, and, in late November, in the World Brasita Championship, to take place in Saragoça, Spain.
Despite the association not having made contact with Arab importers, Andrade Leite stated that there is much interest in promoting the product in the region. "We need to promote sampling at fairs for consumers to have the opportunity to sample special coffee and feel the enormous difference as against common coffees," he pointed out.
More coffee with added value
The region of coverage of the association counts on 45 cities and 7,200 coffee farmers who may become special coffee producers. According to Andrade Leite, Acenpp wants to promote the knowledge acquired by its members and by this universe, thus taking the benefits of the program to the greatest possible number of farms.
Contact
Site: www.acenpp.com.br
Telephone: (+55 43) 3534-2506
E-mail: contato@acenpp.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
