In Apartadó, Antioquia, Colombia, the Cocoa Farmers’ Association (ASOAGRICAC) brings together farming families with a shared ambition: to strengthen local agriculture while creating better opportunities for cocoa producers and their communities.

Founded in 2015, ASOAGRICAC is a nonprofit organization rooted in the experience of farming families, including people affected by the armed conflict and single mothers. Its members produce cocoa alongside plantains, cassava and corn, and are actively involved in processing and marketing agricultural products.

Today, the association has 100 formal members while providing cocoa purchasing services to around 300 producers across different communities in Apartadó. Its broader membership base reaches approximately 400 families, including 10 households headed by women.

ASOAGRICAC is increasingly focused on producing cocoa in ways that benefit both farmers and the environment. Since 2023, 45 affiliated producers have held organic and FLO certifications, with the number continuing to grow. These certifications have helped open markets for their organic cocoa with buyers such as Luker and Equiori.

The association is also investing in more sustainable production through initiatives such as its La Joya chocolate brand and the Cacao Resiliencia project, implemented with the Swiss Cooperation’s Colombia Competitiva programme. The project supports farmers in transitioning from conventional to organic agriculture through practices such as vermicomposting, the establishment of a biofactory and the renovation of ageing cocoa trees.

For ASOAGRICAC, resilience means more than adapting farming practices. It means strengthening rural families, creating opportunities for women and young producers, and building a cocoa sector that is economically viable, environmentally responsible and rooted in the community.