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Los Rios

APOVINCES cacao farmer drying cacao on his farm in Los Rios, Ecuador
  • CO-OP: APOVINCES
  • PROVINCE: Los Ríos
  • TOWN: Vinces
  • FARMERS: 450
  • CLIMATE: 20° C a 30° C . tropical monsoon zone
  • ALTITUDE: Less than 500 meters above sea level

ASOCIACIÓN DE PRODUCTORES ORGÁNICOS DE VINCES, “APOVINCES”

THE CO-OP

In 2006, with great optimism, a group of “Vinceños”, cultivators of the land, decided to form an organization to boost clean agriculture, use cooperative marketing techniques, and provide fundamental training for themselves and those farmers in areas around them as the premise to improve farm productivity and way of life for their families. In this region, there are cocoa trees more than 100 years old that continue to produce. Alongside these cocoa trees are several varieties of hardwood and tropical fruit trees such as Guachapeli, Guabo, Mamei, Grosellas, Cauge, Ciruelea, and Peqchiche.

Conexion Chocolate founder Jenny Samaniego with members of the APOVINCES Co-Op in Los Rios, Ecuador
Vinces city street during the day with bright and colorful VINCES sign

THE PROVINCE

The numerous rivers in this area allow the extensive plantations, that cover a large part of the province, to take advantage of this abundant water source. The wetlands provide a vast amount of flora and fauna that make up 72 species of birds. Among them are herons, coots, tambuleras, ducks, crows, lapwings, parakeets and pacharacos. The tropical forest that borders the mountain range provides lumber that is of great economical importance for the region. The province of Los Rios is characterized by being rich in agricultural production. Some of the crops found here are rice, banana, cocoa, corn, yuca, and tropical fruits. As a result, the same food is served in all of the districts of this province.

Illustrated map of Ecuador with regions of cacao production marked

LOCATION

  • cacao podARRIBA NACIONAL CACAO
  • CO-OP: APOVINCES
  • FARMERS: 450
  • PROVINCE: Los Ríos
  • TOWN: Vinces
  • CLIMATE: 20° C a 30° C . tropical monsoon zone
  • ALTITUDE: Less than 500 meters above sea level

CERTIFICATIONS

Rainforest Alliance certified logo USDA Organic logo Fair Trade logo Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund logo EU European Union logo CERES logo