José Elvio Ortega, Finca La Granadilla

When I was a boy, our family always picked coffee during the harvest season…

It coincided more or less with the school holidays, so I didn’t miss much school and we needed the money too badly, so all of us had to work. Usually, we went picking in El Salvador, as I grew up in a small village close to the border, and there were more opportunities there.

But we didn’t have our own land; we always worked for other people. Once I was an adult, I moved to Mercedes, where the CAFESMO cooperative is located. Little by little, I bought some land. It’s been a tough fight. Many days, I skipped meals in order to save some money. Now I own 3,8 hectares.

It’s still a fight, but being a land owner also offers us some long-term stability and we worry less about where our next meal comes from. All the land that I bought was already being used to grow coffee, but little by little I’m changing the varieties to focus increasingly on Parainema.

Thanks to my membership with CAFESMO, I was able to certify the finca for FTO. Also, since becoming a member, I’m learning more about soil conversation and water management, and also techniques to prepare specialty coffees. It’s a great way to diversify my offer and also to keep the land clean and healthy for the long future. Climate change worries me, but as my own finca is located at 1,400 meters, I know that I will be able to grow great coffees for many years to come.

My three children are still small, the oldest is 13, and I’m very grateful that they can go to school without having to work, like was the case for me. But I can notice that they are attracted to what I do. They love to climb on the back of the car and drive all the way to the finca with me, their faces and hair blowing in the breeze. When they accompany me it’s mostly to play while I work, but I notice the interest on their faces when I explain what I’m doing and they’re always asking questions, or eager to help.

So, my next goal is to establish a long-term relationship with one or two roasters, to work hand in hand and make a coffee together that we can really be proud of. Not only for me and for now, but also because I know that at least one of my children will be able to continue to develop what we are building now, for the next generation. To assure a future livelihood, but especially to keep enjoying great coffee.

Farm facts

The farm is 3,8 hectares and is located at 1,400 meters. The land is FTO certified and the main variety is Parainema. There’s a bit of Pacas as well and around 0,3 hectares is being used to grow Lempira plants.

Shadow is provided mostly by guanajiquil trees.

This farm is Rain Forest Alliance certified.