The Path to Partnership: How Cooperatives Join Our Network and Why It Matters

Earlier this year at the SCA Expo in Houston, we had the pleasure of meeting many of you in person. Over the course of our conversations, one question kept coming up: "How do cooperatives join your alliance, and what value does it bring them?"

We appreciated the opportunity to reflect on this with you, and we thought it deserved a more complete answer. That is why we are dedicating this article to giving a deeper look at how our ecosystem works, what makes it different, and how it creates long-term value both for producers at origin and for green coffee traders.

Our Model

At ElevaFinca, we represent more than just green coffee. We represent a fully integrated ecosystem designed to deliver lasting value to producers, communities, and buyers.

The Ecotierra Ecosystem is built on three core pillars:

• Ecotierra Capital (Launched in 2025), the dedicated asset management platform within the Ecotierra ecosystem, is responsible for mobilizing capital toward regenerative, high-impact projects. Building on the success of the Urapi Sustainable Land Use Fund, Ecotierra Capital now manages Urapi and pursues complementary investment strategies that align financial returns with environmental and social value.

• Ecotierra Project Management, the project developer and operator, transforms these investments into action on the ground. With nearly 15 years of experience, Ecotierra works alongside farmers and cooperatives to implement sustainable agroforestry systems that improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and strengthen farm productivity.

• ElevaFinca, the commercial bridge, connects this work to the market. We represent the coffee produced by these cooperatives, helping buyers like you access traceable supply chains rooted in transparency, impact, and long-term value.

To bring this model to life in key coffee-growing regions, Ecotierra has established four projects in partnership with local communities, made possible through investments from the Urapi Sustainable Land Use Fund. These projects provide essential services such as processing, logistics, and operational support directly to cooperatives:

• Aroma Café & Miel in Honduras

• RioSierra in Colombia

• Café Selva Norte in Northern Peru

• Kuska in Southern Peru

This structure allows us to deliver a fully integrated value chain, from climate-smart agroforestry projects and financial structuring to processing excellence and market access. Every coffee you source through us contributes to resilient communities and regenerative landscapes.

Marino Guevara Alejandría, producer from northern Peru

Why Cooperatives Choose to Work With Us

When a cooperative joins our alliance, they gain more than just market access. They become part of a structured support system designed to help them grow, professionalize, and succeed over the long term.Here are some of the key benefits they access:

• Financing to invest in quality and productivity

• Reliable market connections through ElevaFinca

• Liquidity support through service-based credit lines

• Enhanced visibility and credibility by joining a respected network

• Access to Governance Programs and Technical Assistance

  
  

Many cooperatives in our network have used these tools to strengthen their operations and improve their market position. Across Peru, Honduras, and Colombia, over 20 cooperatives have already joined our alliance. With the support of our ecosystem, they have gained access to financing, improved their internal governance, and expanded their visibility in national and international markets. Several of them are now selling a greater share of their coffee through premium, traceable channels and have begun implementing long-term strategies for quality, resilience, and regeneration.

What Makes Our Model Different

What sets us apart is our ability to integrate every part of the coffee value chain, from farm to final contract. While some organizations focus on financing, others on processing, and others on export, we bring all of these elements together into a coordinated system.

• Ecotierra Capital mobilizes capital for on-the-ground improvements.

• Ecotierra Project Management implements sustainable production models.

• Our projects in partnership with local communities provide infrastructures, logistics, and support services.

• ElevaFinca connects suppliers at origin with buyers Globally.

This full-circle approach ensures that every coffee you source through us is backed by real impact at every level.

How New Cooperatives Join Our Network

Because we take partnership seriously, our onboarding process is designed to ensure transparency and alignment from the start.

1. Initial Presentation

   We begin with an introduction between the prospective cooperative and our Project, where we share our vision and explore alignment.

   
   

2. Organizational and Financial Review

   Our teams conduct a thorough review of the cooperative’s governance, financial health, and operational capacity.

   
   

3. Field Visit and Verification

   We visit the cooperative to validate the information and assess their readiness to join the alliance.

   
   

4. Resolution and Admission

   If all steps are positive, we issue a formal resolution confirming their membership and begin building their path to market.

   
   

Whether you are already sourcing with us or looking to expand your impact-driven supply chain, we hope this gives you a clearer picture of how we work. Our goal is to make it easier for you to access high-quality, traceable coffee that supports people, communities, and the environment at origin.

Our latest coffee offer is constantly updated here