Timeline
Acknowledgment amongst members as an organised community: this was the most difficult and convoluted period, between 2001 and 2006. Farmer organisation processes had no precedent in the country and making joint decisions was very complex. This allowed for organisational cohesion that continues today.
ASPROUNIÓN applied for a project with the EEC for 622,000 euros, developing a project aimed at training members in topics such as: human rights, governance, associability, gender, organic agriculture, high quality coffee production, production of minor species, public policy and environment. This strengthened the organisation in administration processes and in social and business decision-making.
In 2009, ASPROUNIÓN applied for a national cooperation project for 260,000,000 pesos. This project enabled to provide training to the different groups: coffee collection, physical analysis, sensorial analysis, good agricultural practices, good processing practices, threshing of special coffee, roasting of special coffee, logistics, coffee exports and international marketing.
In 2010, ASPROUNIÓN formalised before the Colombian authorities the roasted coffee brand La Jacoba with its Special Reserve Gold line. On the same year, we were granted an export licence for roasted coffee and exported our first roasted coffee shipment.
ASPROUNIÓN was the first organisation opting for certification and the first to obtain Fair Trade certification in the department of Nariño, on May 17, 2011 and it remains current. From that year on, we started to commercialise FLO coffee with Racafé & Cia SCA, increasing yearly.
In 2011, ASPROUNIÓN exported the first 500 kg of La Jacoba roasted coffee to Australia.
In 2012, the scope of the licence was extended to export green coffee beans under La Jacoba Coffee La Unión Nariño brand.
In 2013, ASPROUNIÓN established its office for direct distribution to roasters in Australia.
In 2015, its direct distribution was expanded to New Zealand.
In 2015, ASPROUNIÓN gained Nariño Coffee Denomination of Origin, Colombian Coffee Denomination of Origin and Protected Denomination of Origin.
On the same year, ASPROUNIÓN developed an expansion process in European markets with coffees roasted in origin in collaboration with Procolombia, FNC and Holland’s CBI.
We started working in New Zealand as: LA JACOBA COFFEE- ASPROUNIÓN NEW ZEALAND LIMITED.
ASPROUNIÓN signed agreements with various entities. In 2015 and 2016 we signed an agreement with Washington St Louis University and specifically with the Centre for Experiential Learning and Olin Business School, which has helped our mutual growth and the opening of special coffee markets for ASPROUNIÓN.
From 2017, ASPROUNIÓN found an ally in Holland (Kinti Café) and commenced work developing strategies to generate impact for coffee growers. It commenced to offer La Jacoba coffee roasted in origin and Kinti Café roasted in Holland, hence supporting regional production processes.