--- Victor Chacon Salinas, FEDECADE Member

FEDECADE was founded in Naranjal, Ecuador by a single person in 1981, but was taken over in 1992 by a group of cocoa farmers. FEDECADE is made up of 1200 cocoa farmers, most of which are small producers with fewer than 20 hectares of land. Set in the rainforest of Ecuador, FEDECADE is a rapidly growing nonprofit organization that is made up of seven cocoa cooperatives. FEDECADE has received support from a local NGO, Conservación y Desarrollo, which has helped members develop fermentation and drying infrastructure, thereby improving the quality of their cocoa.

In 2000, FEDECADE raised funds from international foundations and government sources to build the first of their centralized fermentation and drying facilities. Today, their 5 collection centers process about 600 metric tons of cocoa. In addition, the co-op now uses solar drying greenhouses and has started their own export program.

FEDECADE’s cocoa is already popular in the European market and steadily gaining popularity with U.S consumers. It is known for its unique floral and fruity aroma and nutty taste derived from the combination of soil, light, air, water, and the careful fermentation and drying process. Most of the farms are certified as organic, and the cocoa is not mixed with inferior products.

Fair Trade Certified by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) in 2005, cooperative members hope to improve their standard of living and social programs with the Fair Trade premium. Fair Trade sales represent about one third of Federation members’ production. Currently, the Federation’s president is negotiating the regulations of certification to better align with the lives of cocoa growers in Ecuador and facilitate more participation in Fair Trade in the future.

The Fair Trade premium has enabled FEDECADE to establish various social and productive programs.