CoopeAtenas: An Economic Cornerstone Of The Community
- Dennis J. Easters
- Dennis@pldatenasrealty.com
- +506-8854-7721
August is full of big birthdays and celebrations in Atenas. On Aug. 7, the town and county of Atenas celebrated its 156th birthday. Officially founded on Aug. 7, 1868, Atenas was once the strategic meeting and resting point for Costa Rican merchants traveling by oxcart with goods and coffee from the fertile Central Valley to the Pacific coastal port of Puntarenas.
The town and region has grown over the years, but still retain their small-town country charm. Atenas’ oxcart history is remembered by the famous Oxcart Monument in town, by sculptor Manuel ‘Manolo’ Torrecillas Lopez. The oldest and biggest business in Atenas, the cooperative, CoopeAtenas, celebrates its 55th birthday on August 10, 2024. And, of course, Mother’s Day, when we honor all of Costa Rica’s mothers, on August 15th. In honor of the dual August birthdays of Atenas and its oldest business, here’s the story of the inception of CoopeAtenas.
From Coffee to Commerce: How the Oldest Business in Atenas, Costa Rica Got its Start
For more than two centuries, coffee production has played a central role in Atenas, Costa Rica. The town’s history and development is based on coffee. Farmers in the principal coffee-growing neighborhoods of Atenas, San Isidro, Morazan, Estanquillos, and San Jose Norte used to have to transport their coffee beans over rustic roads to Palmares to process and sold, which was becoming unprofitable.
In 1969, a group of 92 coffee producers in Atenas joined together to create their own company, and chose a cooperative for its organization. Long before the fair trade movement, workers from around the world have formed cooperatives to protect their interests, share in profits and democratically run their businesses. On August 10, 1969, CoopeAtenas R.L. was born.
Nowadays, there are 1,250 coffee growers participating in CoopeAtenas, mostly from the Atenas area, with 250 associates from nearby Puriscal and Turrubares. Warm sun and cool ocean breezes filtering through the green mountains nurture 2,158 tons of coffee, produced annually by CoopeAtenas growers.
All of it passes through the CoopeAtenas processing plant in San Isidro. The cooperative proudly holds the international certifications of Fair Trade, UTZ, the ISO 14001 for their environmental standards, and C.A.F.E practices by Starbucks.
While 85% of the coffee beans from CoopeAtenas are sold to the USA, Canada and Europe to brands like Starbucks, Green Mountain Coffee, Serengeti, and Royal Coffee, of the 15% that remain in Costa Rica, 4% are the brands known locally as Atenas coffee: La Villa, El Ateneo and Villa Diamante.
More than Coffee: Community Development and Growth
Today, CoopeAtenas has grown to include a supermarket, gas station, automotive center, liquor store, and a hardware and agricultural supply store. It’s a pillar in the Atenas economy as a source of employment for 175 residents, for the income that is distributed among its associates, and for the social assistance it provides to the community.
Coffee farming has dropped to third place in the cooperative’s economic activity, due to unstable world coffee prices and urban development. “Coffee is the heart and blood of this company, but it is not the main economic activity anymore,” said CoopeAtenas General Manager, Juan Carlos Alvarez.
The big, beautiful, modern CoopeAtenas Supermarket in town is CoopeAtenas’ top producer, followed by the gas station. In 2012, the supermarket more than tripled in size and moved to its present location below the gas station and automotive center on Highway 3.
It is now the largest supermarket in town with a great diversity of products, paying special attention to items requested by the local international community, like organic and gluten-free products, said Alvarez. Priority is given to locally-sourced fruits and vegetables, meats and dairy products, including goat milk and goat cheeses, and baked goods, he added.
From the annual revenues generated by these activities, CoopeAtenas gives back to the community an average of $100,000 in financial support to schools, community halls, sports teams, coffee-producing neighborhoods, the Atenas Nursing Home, the Red Cross, and police station, just to name a few.
Alvarez said the cooperative recently donated the uniforms to the boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams from Atenas in addition to helping build a playground in the Alto Naranjo community.
Two years ago, Alvarez said CoopeAtenas began a project to buy land in the higher parts of the San Isidro neighborhood near natural springs in order to protect the water resources of Atenas. So far, about 50 acres of land have been purchased. “We want to reforest these areas, helping to producing water for the community,” said Alvarez. CoopeAtenas employees also get involved with organized trash pick-ups around local streams, and planting trees in the areas the cooperative is reforesting.
For more than five decades, CoopeAtenas has been a driving force in the development of Atenas, Costa Rica, dedicated to bettering the quality of life for its residents. Reflecting Atenas’ core values of solidarity, equality, and social responsibility, CoopeAtenas continues its role as a passionate community leader into the future.
CoopeAtenas: An Economic Cornerstone of the Community
August is a month of celebrations in Atenas. On August 7, the town marked its 156th anniversary. Founded in 1868, Atenas was once a strategic resting point for Costa Rican merchants traveling by oxcart, carrying coffee and goods from the fertile Central Valley to the port of Puntarenas.
Though the town has grown, it has never lost its small-town charm. Its oxcart history is honored by the Oxcart Monument in the center of town, created by sculptor Manuel “Manolo” Torrecillas López.
This year, another important birthday takes place: on August 10, 2024, CoopeAtenas—Atenas’ oldest and largest business—celebrates its 55th anniversary. Just a few days later, Costa Rica honors mothers nationwide on August 15. In recognition of these dual milestones, here’s a look at how CoopeAtenas began and why it remains a pillar of the community today.
From Coffee to Commerce
For more than 200 years, coffee has shaped Atenas. Farmers in neighborhoods like San Isidro, Morazán, Estanquillos, and San José Norte once had to transport their beans over rough roads to Palmares for processing and sale—a costly and inefficient system.
In 1969, 92 local coffee producers decided to take control of their future. They formed a cooperative—a business model that allows members to share profits and make decisions democratically. On August 10, 1969, CoopeAtenas R.L. was officially founded.
Today, the cooperative includes 1,250 coffee growers from Atenas, Puriscal, and Turrubares. Together, they produce more than 2,100 tons of coffee annually, all processed at the CoopeAtenas plant in San Isidro.
CoopeAtenas has earned prestigious certifications including Fair Trade, UTZ, ISO 14001 for environmental standards, and C.A.F.E. Practices by Starbucks. Most of its coffee—about 85%—is exported to the U.S., Canada, and Europe, with major clients like Starbucks, Green Mountain Coffee, and Royal Coffee. The remaining 15% stays in Costa Rica, with local brands such as La Villa, El Ateneo, and Villa Diamante.
More Than Coffee
While coffee remains the heart of the cooperative, CoopeAtenas has grown into a diverse business network. Today, it operates a supermarket, gas station, automotive center, liquor store, and hardware/agricultural supply store. Together, these businesses employ 175 local residents and generate income that circulates back into the community.
In fact, coffee is now the cooperative’s third-largest source of revenue, behind the supermarket and gas station. The flagship supermarket, expanded in 2012, is the largest in Atenas, offering everything from organic and gluten-free items to locally produced meats, dairy, baked goods, and fresh produce.
Giving Back to Atenas
CoopeAtenas contributes an average of $100,000 annually to local schools, sports teams, community halls, the Atenas Nursing Home, the Red Cross, and even the local police. Recent contributions include uniforms for boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams and a new playground in Alto Naranjo.
Environmental stewardship is also a priority. The cooperative has purchased 50 acres of land near San Isidro’s natural springs to protect water resources, with plans to reforest the area. Employees participate in stream clean-ups and tree-planting projects, reinforcing their commitment to sustainability.
A Lasting Legacy
For more than five decades, CoopeAtenas has been more than just a business—it has been a driving force in the development of Atenas, providing jobs, supporting families, protecting natural resources, and improving the quality of life for residents.
As General Manager Juan Carlos Álvarez explains: “Coffee is the heart and blood of this company, but it is not the main economic activity anymore.” Still, the cooperative’s values of solidarity, equality, and social responsibility remain the foundation of everything it does.
Looking ahead, CoopeAtenas is committed to continuing its role as an economic cornerstone and community leader—just as it has since 1969.
Written by Shannon Farley for PLD Atenas Realty
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Dennis Easters
Real Estate Broker
+506-8854-7721
Dennis@pldatenasrealty.com
