Challenges and managerial strategies of coffee cooperatives from the huatusco region in mexico: the perspective of leaders

Coffee cooperatives from the Huatusco region in Mexico have played an important role in helping coffee farmers in this region maintain economic viability in the midst of the economic crisis in Mexico and the international crisis of the coffee sector over time. While this type of organization has played an important role, not all of those organizations have survived over time. Using information from interviews with leaders of five longeval coffee producer cooperatives in the Huatusco coffee region, this study aims to identify the coffee cooperatives characteristics that can explain the longevity and long-term sustainability of these organizations. Additionally, using information from interviews, we evaluated challenges that could put at risk the long-term sustainability of these associations and strategies to overcome these challenges from the cooperative leadership perspective. Findings from this study suggest that motivations behind the creation of these producer associations go beyond accessing government resources. An institutional structure where there is a democratic process behind the election of leaders, leadership positions with predefined, not long, tenure terms, and association strategies to increase member engagement could explain the longevity of these organizations. Regarding challenges the cooperatives may be facing in the future, the aging population of growers is perceived by cooperative leaders as one of the major challenges they may be facing. Increasing youth involvement in the cooperatives through training and educational activities was perceived by cooperative leaders as a strategy to overcome this challenge.