Cooperative Office Delays New Coffee Member Registrations

The Federal Office for Cooperative Affairs announced today that it will extend the registration deadline for twelve smallholder coffee farms in the Río Esperanto valley by two weeks, citing a backlog in document verification. The affected farms, part of the San Vicente Cooperative, had applied in early September to join the federal fair‑price programme that guarantees a minimum ₣ 3.20 per kilogram of coffee.

Cooperative Council member Elena Ramos said the delay could affect the farms’ cash flow during the upcoming harvest season. “We are already working hard to meet the planting schedule, and a postponed payment guarantee adds uncertainty,” she explained.