As CAC Pangoa marked its 48th anniversary in San Martín de Pangoa, Peru, Café Campesino’s CEO Tripp Pomeroy joined the celebration, and the Platos Típicos competition, while also participating in Cooperative Coffees’ 25th annual general meeting. In this interview, Tripp reflects on conversations with Ingeniera Esperanza Dionisio Castillo and Pangoa’s farmer-leaders, sharing vivid snapshots of community, governance, and culture. He explores how a mature cooperative sustains transparency and member services for ~700 producers, how social programs—from retirement-through-reforestation to the Women’s Committee’s weekly market—build resilience, and why the co-op model remains a frontline strategy for adapting to climate change. The result is a ground-level view of long-term, dignified trading relationships that connect customers directly to the people behind their coffee.
Question 1: Looking Back on the 48th Anniversary Celebration
“You mentioned how meaningful it would be to attend CAC Pangoa’s 48th anniversary and participate in the Platos Típicos competition. What moments from the celebration stood out most to you? Were there any personal interactions or cultural experiences that left a lasting impression?”
This was just a fortuitous and wonderful opportunity — not only to celebrate Pangoa’s 48th anniversary and have some fun participating in the Platos Típicos competition — but also because it coincided with Cooperative Coffees’ 2025 Meeting of Members. I was able to participate as a board member and as the outgoing secretary, which made it even more meaningful.
As someone deeply committed to the cooperative business model, it was a special moment to attend Cooperative Coffees’ AGM during such an important time — both for Pangoa and for our own co-op, which is celebrating 25 years. It feels like an inflection point — a moment for looking inward and reaffirming our commitments as a cooperative while also planning for the next 25 years.
Pangoa, which is twice as old as we are, has long been a thriving cooperative. We look to them not only for inspiration but also for expertise and guidance. The chance to sit side by side with Ingeniera Esperanza Dionisio Castillo — the first woman agronomist in Peru’s coffee industry and the first general manager of a coffee cooperative in the country — was deeply meaningful. I’ve known her for 20 years and have worked with her as a trading partner and fellow cooperative member.
I met with Esperanza, members of the board, and many of Pangoa’s farmer members — including one gentleman who has been a member for 45 years, now 78 years old and still farming coffee. I also met a young farmer whom I first met as a teenager nearly two decades ago. Seeing him again 20 years later was a full-circle moment. These personal relationships — combined with the strength of our cooperative and trading partnerships — really highlighted how deep and lasting these connections are.
Our long-term trading relationships, friendships, and shared values with organizations like CAC Pangoa are central to how we move forward as a cooperative — and as traders of Fair Trade, organic coffee with small-scale, farmer-owned co-ops.
At the AGM, Esperanza gave the opening remarks on the second day, while Bill Harris — co-founder of Cooperative Coffees and Café Campesino — gave the opening remarks on the first day. It was powerful to have those two voices side by side: the founder who envisioned using the cooperative business model to unite small roasters, and one of the most dynamic cooperative leaders in the global Fair Trade movement. Sitting next to Esperanza as she addressed our members was truly wonderful.
The Platos Típicos competition was also remarkable. It wasn’t just about food — it was more like a community talent showcase, featuring poetry, dance, and music performed by members and their children. The night before the anniversary celebration, I was asked to be a judge, with specific scoring criteria for each act. We even signed forms for accountability and transparency — a reflection of how well-run Pangoa is as a co-op.
The performances took place on a coffee-drying patio, surrounded by dozens of members arriving from the surrounding region. From Indigenous dances to modern poetry, every presentation carried messages of beauty and pride.
The next day, at the 48th anniversary celebration, about 300 farmer members attended. I sat with Vinny and other board members at the front. Watching how the leadership communicated with members — with mutual respect and knowledge — was impressive. When I was invited to speak, I told the farmers that what they are doing truly matters. Their commitment to the cooperative business model and to organic coffee farming is deeply appreciated by everyone at Café Campesino, Cooperative Coffees, and by our customers. I asked them to keep doing what they are doing — because our long-term trading relationship depends on it.
It was an incredible experience — personal, professional, and profoundly cooperative in every sense.
Question 2: Frontline Perspectives on the Co-op Model
“Before the trip, you hoped to bring back a ‘message from the front lines’ affirming the strength of fair trade and cooperative models in adapting to climate change. Did your conversations and visits confirm that hope?”
Absolutely. The cooperative business model — founded in the 1800s, I believe by Robert Owen in Britain — was designed to bring people together in business enterprises that balance ownership, transparency, and empowerment. It offers a sustainable alternative between unrestrained capitalism and state-controlled socialism.
For us at Café Campesino, and for the other 22 members of Cooperative Coffees, this model has built one of the most resilient and effective supply chains in the market. It’s not without challenges — it evolves and requires constant effort — but it has stood the test of time globally.
My takeaway is that in today’s world, where transparency and collaboration are often under siege, adhering to the cooperative model — and its principles of fairness and sustainability — is more critical than ever.
For Café Campesino, this means it’s time for our staff, owners, and eventually our customers to deepen their understanding of the cooperative business model — its history, its nuances, and its potential. On the Cooperative Coffees board, we’ve begun discussing how to strengthen our cooperative infrastructure.
Esperanza has even agreed to do a “Co-op 101” session with us, alongside Adam Schwartz — both of whom are highly experienced advocates and educators of the cooperative model. Their combined expertise will help us continue building a stronger foundation.
Pangoa has thrived for 48 years under this model, and they’re already planning for their 50th anniversary. For us, the lesson is clear: understanding and reinforcing the cooperative model will position us strongly for the future.
In terms of climate change, co-ops are the front line of adaptation. They provide technical support, coordination, and innovation — essential elements in sustainable coffee farming. Practices like shade management and the avoidance of chemical fertilizers are all part of “doing the dance” with the climate.
Well-run cooperatives like Pangoa demonstrate that the co-op model is one of the most effective structures for confronting and mitigating the challenges of climate change.
Question 3: Social Programs and Long-Term Impact
“One of your goals was to learn whether Pangoa’s retirement-through-reforestation initiative was still in effect. Were you able to explore that program or other social investments the co-op is prioritizing today?”
Yes — the retirement-through-reforestation initiative is still active and successful. I specifically asked about it because it’s something I’ve spoken about for years. The idea, conceived two decades ago, was to help aging farmers establish a source of income for retirement. They plant native shade trees that can later be selectively harvested for hardwood, providing both environmental and financial sustainability.
The program continues to function well today, offering farmers both ecological and economic security. It’s a brilliant example of cooperative innovation rooted in local knowledge of the land.
Another initiative that stood out to me is Pangoa’s Women’s Committee. Vinny and I plan to highlight their work through our social media and communications. The committee leads numerous projects — one of the most impressive being the Saturday farmers’ market across from the CAC Pangoa Coffee House in San Martín de Pangoa.
Every Saturday morning, women sell products ranging from farm-grown produce to prepared foods and traditional drinks. It’s well-attended, vibrant, and empowering. The committee also provides microloans to women members.
During the Platos Típicos competition, the Women’s Committee presented a cultural fashion show featuring traditional clothing from different regions and eras — a beautiful tribute to local artistry and heritage.
Pangoa’s social programs go beyond this. Cooperative Coffees’ Impact Fund also partners with Pangoa on well-planned projects with measurable returns. The co-op invests strategically in community development, leadership training, and preparing the next generation of farmers for sustainable livelihoods.
I was especially struck by the continuity of generations — from the 78-year-old member who’s been farming for 45 years to the younger farmers now taking the lead. Life in the region is still difficult, but Pangoa’s programs reflect resilience, creativity, and community solidarity.
Hats off to Pangoa — they exemplify what it means to live out the cooperative principles in tangible, impactful ways.
Question 4: Lessons from a 48-Year-Old Co-op
“You mentioned that, with Café Campesino now in its 25th year, you were eager to learn from Pangoa’s longevity and stability. What lessons did you take away from their 48-year journey that could guide the next chapter for our own co-op?”
A few things stand out: commitment, diligence, expertise, and a long-term perspective.
Pangoa’s members share a deep commitment to the cooperative business model and to maintaining fair, direct, and transparent trading relationships. They’ve built processes and systems that ensure accountability and collaboration among more than 700 members — no small feat.
Pangoa plays a critical role not only in its members’ livelihoods but also in the local economy and in relationships with trading partners like Café Campesino. For example, during the high season, they showed flexibility in helping us navigate financial logistics around tariffs — a reminder that cooperation is mutual.
Their goal is simple yet profound: to provide the best possible services to their members while honoring the principles of Fair Trade and organic production. Membership growth is managed sustainably to fund those services.
For 20 years, Pangoa’s membership has remained around 700, but they’ve managed to attract new members as others retire — keeping the co-op vibrant. They’ve diversified into cacao and finished chocolate, demonstrating innovation and stability.
For Cooperative Coffees, now at 25 years, this is a pivotal moment to renew our commitment to Fair Trade and the cooperative movement. We must invest in member education, staff training, and stronger cooperative infrastructure.
Our organization already excels at managing trading relationships and honoring both the commercial and human dimensions of the coffee trade. With our Impact Fund contributing to projects at origin, the next step is to modestly expand our membership by bringing in like-minded roasters who share our vision.
As Adam Schwartz once said, “If you’ve seen one co-op, you’ve seen one co-op.” Each is unique — but successful co-ops like Pangoa share foundational traits: strong governance, transparency, and unwavering commitment to cooperative principles.
We work with some of the most resilient farmer-owned co-ops in the world, and we have much to learn from them. Visiting Pangoa reinforced that the cooperative movement is alive, strong, and essential to our future.
Question 5: A Story for Our Customers
“Now that you’ve returned, what story would you most like our customers and allies to hear from your time in Peru? How can they feel more connected to the people behind the coffee?”
This was my third visit to Pangoa — the first was 20 years ago. Seeing familiar faces after so many years was incredibly meaningful. Some people I hadn’t seen in nearly two decades; others I’d met more recently. Sitting down together, catching up about family, sharing meals, and celebrating their 48th anniversary alongside 300 farmers — these are the moments that define our partnerships.
The story I want our customers to hear is about those everyday human connections. The warmth, respect, and friendship that underpin our trading relationships.
One story that stands out is about Don Juan Aquis Veliz, a board member of Pangoa. Over lunch, he told me how, 40 years ago, when there were no roads, he traveled into the Amazon to settle his land. He arrived with nothing, worked for another farmer during the day to earn money, and slowly built his own coffee farm outside San Martín de Pangoa.
Today, in 2025, that same farm still produces coffee, and Don Juan remains an active member of the co-op. His humility, pride, and perseverance are extraordinary — a living testament to the spirit of cooperative farming.
The board members I met — Juan, Epifanio Polmezunguia, Miriam Cotace Pompeo (Vice President), Rodrigo Nahui Centeno (President), Julio Canicella Sánchez, and Tania, the Secretary — are not just leaders but working farmers. They exude warmth, intelligence, and genuine interest in people.
Their appreciation for the relationships with Cooperative Coffees and Café Campesino extends directly to our customers. Many customers even know Esperanza personally. I passed along greetings between them.
So my message to customers and allies is this: behind every cup of coffee are long-term, respectful, and dignified relationships. Standards like Fair Trade and organic certification matter, but the cooperative model — and the human relationships it fosters — are what truly make this possible.
There’s something called the dignity scale, which measures how people honor the humanity of others through listening, speaking, and respect. Pangoa would be an eight out of ten on that scale. Their way of doing business — with mutual respect and warmth — is what sustains them after 48 years.
If we can learn from that and bring the same sense of dignity and cooperation into our own work, both commercially and socially, then we’ll be living the true spirit of the cooperative movement.
