COOARP - Cooperativa dos Apicultores de Ribeira do Pombal

COOARP was constituted on May 16, 2001 and aims to promote integrated and sustainable development of the production chain of beekeeping in the northeast Semiarid territory II, through the modernization of its technical and organisational standards, By empowering, expanding and improving their actions in the market. The catchment area of COOARP encompasses 14 municipalities: Ribeira do Pombal, Ribeira do Amparo, Cipó, Nova Soure, Banzaê, Cícero Dantas, Heliópolis, new Triunfo, Euclides da Cunha, Itapicuru, Tucano, Paripiranga, Fátima and Adustina. The beekeeping promoted by COOARP, is an activity that meets the technical criteria appropriate to the tripod of sustainability: ecological-bees, besides making their products available to beekeepers, they perform the work of natural pollination of Species, in this way, honey assumes an ecological function in stimulating environmental preservation and reforestation of native forests; Economical-the low cost of implementation and the natural vocation of Bahia for beekeeping, has stimulated the implementation of a large number of family-based projects, responsible for the generation of jobs and income throughout the State; Social-The employment of family Labor in the management of apiaries represents an activity of food production, remedy, source of income and environmental preservation for the families involved; The products obtained from the beekeeping farm in wild flowers are free from pesticide and agrochemical contamination, which ensures the quality and high standard of the products. The producers still count on the diversification of the native flora, which gives the honey an exclusive flavor and high medicinal value and honey characterized by the diversity of colors, aromas and flavors appreciated in the world. There is a great concern about its influence on the preservation of the environment and the maintenance of hives. That's why the honey produced by the cooperated Cooarp meets the organic production. The extraction is made handcrafted followed by a semi-indústrial process, the beekeepers are trained so that throughout the process the care with the hygiene and purity of the product are maintained. The work of training for quality control of the production chain is accomplished through the implementation of the BPM system (good handling Practices), GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control point), recommended by MAPA (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and supply). The rigorous quality control during all stages of production, is the guarantee of a 100% quality honey.