--- —Francisco Durán, Ingrumá member

Founded in 1991, the Ingrumá cooperative is located in the western highlands of the state of Caldas, Colombia. All of Ingrumá’s producers live in four protected indigenous zones. Eighty percent of cooperative members are from the indigenous Embera-Chami ethnic group, and nearly 40% of Ingrumá’s farmers are women.

Ingrumá is notable for its sophisticated level of organization, its transparency and its adherence to democratic principles. The cooperative became Fair Trade Certified by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations (FLO) in 1992, and has been exporting coffee to the US since 1999.

The Fair Trade price has enabled Asprocafe Ingruma to establish various social and productive programs

Education.
Ingrumá awards 50 annual scholarships to cooperative members and their children. The cooperative also provides free school lunches for children in the community.

Productive Investment.
The cooperative has purchased new de-pulping machines and fermentation tanks and has installed drying patios for nearly all of its members. Cooperative funds have allowed members to update an old water supply system, improve more than 37 miles of roads, construct a bridge and a community meeting center, and repair members' homes.

Environment.
Ingrumá sponsors monthly seminars for members on the organic production process. The cooperative is also building a plant in which to convert organic waste into compost. Farmers receive supplies and training for products that can be raised in conjunction with coffee, such as fruit trees, corn, beans, fish and livestock.

Health.
The co-op administers a healthcare plan that covers 14,000 people.