Community cacao collection is the first link in COOPAECA’s cacao value chain. Every week, producer families from different communities deliver their harvest to authorized collection centers, where fresh and dried beans are weighed, graded and recorded by lot before continuing to post-harvest processing.

A system designed for transparency

Each delivery is documented with the producer’s name, farm of origin, harvest date and exact weight received. This traceability recognizes each member’s effort and supports fair payment: the price each family receives directly reflects the quality and volume supplied, without intermediaries reducing their margin.

Collection also plays an important social role. Reception centers become meeting points where cooperative technicians provide immediate post-harvest recommendations while producers exchange experiences.

From the farm to the collection center

  • Selective harvesting of ripe cacao pods.
  • Transport in the shortest possible time to prevent quality loss.
  • Individual weighing and recording by producer and lot.
  • Initial grading based on moisture and bean condition.

This organization provides the basis for consistent fermentation and drying processes and ultimately distinguishes COOPAECA cacao in markets that demand verifiable origin.