The cooperative Javier Francisco Estrada is located
in the area of San Juan del Mombacho, around 20 kilometers
from the entrance of Monteverde (km 60 ½ on
the highway between Granada and Nandaime). It is
one of the foundational cooperatives of the UCA.
It is formed by 21 associates (men and women), and
it has a total population of over 115 people.
The families of this cooperative have their origins
in this zone; they had organized the occupation of
an abandoned farm in 1995. After over 10 years of
working the land, these families are in the process
of obtaining the collective property rights.
This cooperative combines individual agricultural
activities (“chagüite” = plantain,
basic grains, vegetables, fruits), with new communal
activities (cassava, papaya, watermelon…).
With the funds raised with these communal activities,
the expenses of the legalization of the land and
the expenses for internal organizational activities
are covered.
Since 2004, the production of honey has been incorporated,
and the possibilities of incorporating production
of other consumable, non-traditional products are
being studied.
