La Fageda

La Fageda is one of Spain’s most recognized social cooperatives, located in Olot in the Garrotxa region of Catalonia. Founded in 1982 by psychologist Cristóbal Colón, the cooperative was established with the dual mission of producing high-quality dairy products and providing meaningful employment and therapeutic support to people with serious mental illness and intellectual disabilities. Operating in the heart of the Fageda d’en Jordà, a spectacular beech forest on a volcanic plain, La Fageda manages a herd of dairy cows and produces a celebrated range of yogurts, desserts, and other dairy products that are widely sold in Catalan retail markets. The cooperative applies environmentally responsible farming practices in its dairy operation, emphasizing animal welfare, pasture management, and the reduction of environmental impact. La Fageda is a nationally and internationally acclaimed example of how social enterprise and sustainable agriculture can be combined to deliver exceptional social, economic, and environmental outcomes. The cooperative employs several hundred workers, the majority of whom have disabilities or mental health conditions, and it is consistently recognized as a model of inclusive employment and social entrepreneurship. Its story has inspired numerous similar initiatives in Spain and beyond, and it remains deeply embedded in the cultural and economic life of the Garrotxa region.