At a Glance

Location: Amazonas, Peru

Impact Areas: Sustainable Income, Environment

People Supported:
Women, Smallholder Farmers, Youth

NESsT Program: Lirio Fund

Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2026

Overview

Based in the Amazonas region of northern Peru, Valle Verde de Rodríguez de Mendoza (“Valle Verde”) works with smallholder coffee farmers in Rodríguez de Mendoza, a historically underserved and isolated coffee-growing area. Steep terrain, poor road infrastructure, and limited access to technical support affect local farming families’ ability to run viable coffee farms and access reliable markets. For most households, coffee is the primary source of income, leaving many families highly vulnerable to fluctuating coffee prices, climate shocks, and rising input costs. 

Founded over a decade ago by local producers, Valle Verde was created to strengthen farming livelihoods through sustainable agriculture. Today, the association supports close to 500 smallholder farmers who cultivate coffee on plots averaging 2 to 4 hectares in size. Of its members, nearly half are women and 30% are young people, demonstrating strong participation and leadership in the coffee sector. 

In a region where meaningful technical assistance is hard to come by, Valle Verde’s team of technicians conducts regular farm visits providing support on fertilization, pest management, and post-harvesting practices to improve coffee quality. Through Valle Verde's Farmer Field Schools and demonstration plots, producers can learn practical skills such as producing organic fertilizers from coffee pulp, compost, and livestock manure. These practices reduce input costs, improve soil fertility, and help farms adapt to climate shocks. 

Environmental conservation is closely linked to sustainable, long-term livelihoods, and Valle Verde runs several initiatives to promote reforestation of degraded areas, protect local waterways, and improve waste management. Additionally, it supports its members to implement agroforestry systems on their farms. This involves planting native trees to provide shade to coffee trees and protect soils and water sources while improving crop resilience. What’s more, all Valle Verde member farms have been geo-referenced to comply with deforestation-free regulations, clearly separating productive land from surrounding forests. 

Valle Verde plays a vital economic role in the region by ensuring fair and reliable market access. The association holds multiple certifications, including Organic, Fairtrade, and Rainforest Alliance, enabling farmers to sell into premium markets and receive prices that are often higher than those offered by local buyers. Valle Verde ensures its farmers are paid fairly, transparently, and promptly, helping households manage seasonal income gaps. It also offers small credit lines to help cover the costs of inputs, reducing dependence on informal lenders and improving households’ financial stability. 

NESsT Investment

By anchoring itself in a geographically challenging yet high-potential coffee region, Valle Verde has positioned Rodríguez de Mendoza as an emerging specialty coffee region. This unique foothold has allowed the association not only to secure long-term international clients but also to strengthen the resilience and incomes of local farming families. 

NESsT’s investment in Valle Verde will support the association’s growth, strengthen its liquidity, and deepen its social and environmental impact. The financing will be used as a revolving working capital line to buy coffee from members during the harvest season, ensuring timely payments and purchasing higher volumes. With the NESsT Lirio Fund team’s support, Valle Verde will reach more smallholder farmers in the region, especially youth and women, while strengthening its environmental conservation practices.