This paper examines efforts by buyers and NGOs to build the supply of Fairtrade coffee from the Nicaragua-based cooperative Soppexcca following the coffee crisis. Support was aimed at transforming Soppexcca into a viable business, able to respond to the needs of its coffee-farming members. Results show that Soppexcca made significant gains, including expansion of infrastructure, growth in membership, and increased financial stability. However, important issues remained, related to democratic governance, future growth and stability, and the provision of services. Results suggest that advances in building cooperatives do not easily translate into increased capacities at the household level. While some important gains were detected, in general, producers struggled to intensify coffee production and take full advantage of their access to preferential markets. This paper makes a plea for deeper discussions about how buyers and NGOs can more effectively contribute to building the supply of high-quality Fairtrade coffee, and the need for increased coordination and mutual learning as part of the process.

Bacon, C. (2013) ‘Quality revolutions, solidarity networks, and sustainability innovations: following fairtrade coffee from Nicaragua to California’, Journal of Political Ecology 20: 98-115.

Bebbington, A., Quisbert, J. and Trujillo, G. (1996) ‘Technology and rural development strategies in a small farmer organization: lessons from Bolivia for rural policy and practice’, Public Administration and Development 16: 195-213.

Beuchelt, T. and Zeller, M. (2011) ‘Profits and poverty: certifications troubled link for Nicaragua's organic and fairtrade coffee producers’, Ecological Economics 70: 1306-24 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2011.01.005≯.

Denaux, G. (2008) Lo Veo y No lo Creo: La Historia de 11 Años de la UCA Soppexcca, Nicaragua: Jinotega.

Fairtrade Foundation (2012) Fairtrade and Coffee: Commodity Briefing [pdf] <www.fairtrade.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2012/F/FT_Coffee_Report_May2012.pdf≯ [accessed 24 January 2014]. www.fairtrade.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2012/F/FT_Coffee_Report_May2012.pdf

Fairtrade International (FLO) (2011) Challenge and Opportunity: Supplement to Annual Review 2010-11, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

Flores, M., Bratescu, A., Martínez, J.O., Oviedo, J.A. and Acosta, A. (2002) Centroamérica: El impacto de la caída de los precios del café, Mexico City: CEPAL.

Haggar, J., Barrios, M., Bolaños, M., Merlo, M., Moraga, P., Munguia, R., Ponce, A., Romero, S., Soto, G., Staver, C. and Virginio, E. de MF (2011) ‘Coffee agroecosystem performance under full sun, shade, conventional, and organic management regimes in Central America’, Agroforestry Systems 82: 285-301 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10457-011-9392-5≯.

Nittler, J. and Tschinkel, H. (2005) Community forest management in the Maya Biosphere Reserve of Guatemala. Protection through Pro?ts. Report for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (SANREM) Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP), University of Georgia.

Raynolds, L. (2009) ‘Mainstreaming fair trade coffee: from partnership to traceability’, World Development 37(6): 1083-93 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.10.001≯.

Stoian, D., Donovan, J., Fisk, J. and Muldoon, M. (2012) ‘Value chain development for rural poverty reduction: a reality check and a warning’, Enterprise Development and Microfinance 23(1): 54-69.

Transfair USA (2010) Fair trade certified coffee: Impact report [website] <http://fairtradeusa.org/resources/impact-reports≯ [accessed 24 January 2014]. http://fairtradeusa.org/resources/impact-reports

Utting-Chamorro, K. (2005) ‘Does fair trade make a difference? The case of small coffee producers in Nicaragua’, Development in Practice 15(3/4): 584-99.

Van der Vossen, H. (2005) ‘A critical analysis of the agronomic and economic sustainability of organic coffee production’, Experimental Agriculture 41(4): 449-73 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0014479705002863≯.

Varangis, P., Siegel, P., Giovannucci, D. and Lewin, B. (2003) Dealing with the coffee crisis in Central America: Impacts and strategies, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 2993, Washington, DC: World Bank.

Wilson, R. (2010) ‘Indebted to fairtrade? Coffee and crisis in Nicaragua’, Geoforum 41: 84-92 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2009.06.008≯.

Bacon, C. (2013) ‘Quality revolutions, solidarity networks, and sustainability innovations: following fairtrade coffee from Nicaragua to California’, Journal of Political Ecology 20: 98-115.

Bebbington, A., Quisbert, J. and Trujillo, G. (1996) ‘Technology and rural development strategies in a small farmer organization: lessons from Bolivia for rural policy and practice’, Public Administration and Development 16: 195-213.

Beuchelt, T. and Zeller, M. (2011) ‘Profits and poverty: certifications troubled link for Nicaragua's organic and fairtrade coffee producers’, Ecological Economics 70: 1306-24 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2011.01.005≯.

Denaux, G. (2008) Lo Veo y No lo Creo: La Historia de 11 Años de la UCA Soppexcca, Nicaragua: Jinotega.

Fairtrade Foundation (2012) Fairtrade and Coffee: Commodity Briefing [pdf] <www.fairtrade.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2012/F/FT_Coffee_Report_May2012.pdf≯ [accessed 24 January 2014]. www.fairtrade.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2012/F/FT_Coffee_Report_May2012.pdf

Fairtrade International (FLO) (2011) Challenge and Opportunity: Supplement to Annual Review 2010-11, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

Flores, M., Bratescu, A., Martínez, J.O., Oviedo, J.A. and Acosta, A. (2002) Centroamérica: El impacto de la caída de los precios del café, Mexico City: CEPAL.

Haggar, J., Barrios, M., Bolaños, M., Merlo, M., Moraga, P., Munguia, R., Ponce, A., Romero, S., Soto, G., Staver, C. and Virginio, E. de MF (2011) ‘Coffee agroecosystem performance under full sun, shade, conventional, and organic management regimes in Central America’, Agroforestry Systems 82: 285-301 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10457-011-9392-5≯.

Nittler, J. and Tschinkel, H. (2005) Community forest management in the Maya Biosphere Reserve of Guatemala. Protection through Pro?ts. Report for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (SANREM) Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP), University of Georgia.

Raynolds, L. (2009) ‘Mainstreaming fair trade coffee: from partnership to traceability’, World Development 37(6): 1083-93 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.10.001≯.

Stoian, D., Donovan, J., Fisk, J. and Muldoon, M. (2012) ‘Value chain development for rural poverty reduction: a reality check and a warning’, Enterprise Development and Microfinance 23(1): 54-69.

Transfair USA (2010) Fair trade certified coffee: Impact report [website] <http://fairtradeusa.org/resources/impact-reports≯ [accessed 24 January 2014]. http://fairtradeusa.org/resources/impact-reports

Utting-Chamorro, K. (2005) ‘Does fair trade make a difference? The case of small coffee producers in Nicaragua’, Development in Practice 15(3/4): 584-99.

Van der Vossen, H. (2005) ‘A critical analysis of the agronomic and economic sustainability of organic coffee production’, Experimental Agriculture 41(4): 449-73 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0014479705002863≯.

Varangis, P., Siegel, P., Giovannucci, D. and Lewin, B. (2003) Dealing with the coffee crisis in Central America: Impacts and strategies, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 2993, Washington, DC: World Bank.

Wilson, R. (2010) ‘Indebted to fairtrade? Coffee and crisis in Nicaragua’, Geoforum 41: 84-92 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2009.06.008≯.

Bacon, C. (2013) ‘Quality revolutions, solidarity networks, and sustainability innovations: following fairtrade coffee from Nicaragua to California’, Journal of Political Ecology 20: 98-115.

Bebbington, A., Quisbert, J. and Trujillo, G. (1996) ‘Technology and rural development strategies in a small farmer organization: lessons from Bolivia for rural policy and practice’, Public Administration and Development 16: 195-213.

Beuchelt, T. and Zeller, M. (2011) ‘Profits and poverty: certifications troubled link for Nicaragua's organic and fairtrade coffee producers’, Ecological Economics 70: 1306-24 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2011.01.005≯.

Denaux, G. (2008) Lo Veo y No lo Creo: La Historia de 11 Años de la UCA Soppexcca, Nicaragua: Jinotega.

Fairtrade Foundation (2012) Fairtrade and Coffee: Commodity Briefing [pdf] <www.fairtrade.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2012/F/FT_Coffee_Report_May2012.pdf≯ [accessed 24 January 2014]. www.fairtrade.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2012/F/FT_Coffee_Report_May2012.pdf

Fairtrade International (FLO) (2011) Challenge and Opportunity: Supplement to Annual Review 2010-11, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

Flores, M., Bratescu, A., Martínez, J.O., Oviedo, J.A. and Acosta, A. (2002) Centroamérica: El impacto de la caída de los precios del café, Mexico City: CEPAL.

Haggar, J., Barrios, M., Bolaños, M., Merlo, M., Moraga, P., Munguia, R., Ponce, A., Romero, S., Soto, G., Staver, C. and Virginio, E. de MF (2011) ‘Coffee agroecosystem performance under full sun, shade, conventional, and organic management regimes in Central America’, Agroforestry Systems 82: 285-301 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10457-011-9392-5≯.

Nittler, J. and Tschinkel, H. (2005) Community forest management in the Maya Biosphere Reserve of Guatemala. Protection through Pro?ts. Report for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (SANREM) Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP), University of Georgia.

Raynolds, L. (2009) ‘Mainstreaming fair trade coffee: from partnership to traceability’, World Development 37(6): 1083-93 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.10.001≯.

Stoian, D., Donovan, J., Fisk, J. and Muldoon, M. (2012) ‘Value chain development for rural poverty reduction: a reality check and a warning’, Enterprise Development and Microfinance 23(1): 54-69.

Transfair USA (2010) Fair trade certified coffee: Impact report [website] <http://fairtradeusa.org/resources/impact-reports≯ [accessed 24 January 2014]. http://fairtradeusa.org/resources/impact-reports

Utting-Chamorro, K. (2005) ‘Does fair trade make a difference? The case of small coffee producers in Nicaragua’, Development in Practice 15(3/4): 584-99.

Van der Vossen, H. (2005) ‘A critical analysis of the agronomic and economic sustainability of organic coffee production’, Experimental Agriculture 41(4): 449-73 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0014479705002863≯.

Varangis, P., Siegel, P., Giovannucci, D. and Lewin, B. (2003) Dealing with the coffee crisis in Central America: Impacts and strategies, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 2993, Washington, DC: World Bank.

Wilson, R. (2010) ‘Indebted to fairtrade? Coffee and crisis in Nicaragua’, Geoforum 41: 84-92 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2009.06.008≯.