In the San Ramon region of Costa Rica, a number of small-scale sugar producers have united to form the Coopecanera co-operative.

Seeking to increase the income to its members from the production and sale of their sugar, the organisation has purchased its own refinery and handles much of the processing of its sugar cane internally.

Maintaining a steady income from sugar production is difficult in Costa Rica in the face of fluctuating production levels and fickle middlemen who will only buy at the lowest price possible. The co-operative has also faced aggressive measures from other sugar refineries in their region. By avoiding these middlemen and processing all their sugar themselves, the group’s 300 members have remained strong throughout their many challenges and have developed themselves into a dynamic producer-owned company.