COMAPI - Cooperativa Mista dos Apicultores da Microregiao de Simplicio Mendes was created in 1989 by the Catholic Diocese of Oeiras-Floriano, State of Piaui, as an experiment to test the potential of apiculture in the region. The experiment's success proved that the region had an excellent potential for apiculture. Today COMAPI benefits close to 900 rural families and sustainably produces close to 300 Mt of organic honey per year, of which 80% is exported.

COMAPI operates and is based on sustainable production, partnership and fair-trade principles. All the beekeeping work and decision making is done collectively. Objectives include improving the lives of the participants, enhancing social awareness and protecting and restoring the environment.

COMAPI offers an impressive physical infrastructure with 32 honey extraction facilities and one modern and well-equipped honey processing plant with HACCP (Hazard analyses and critical control points).