La lima

We are few. To be exact, in our hamlet there are 24 houses and about 180 souls.

We are located one hour from San Marcos, the town where the nearest stores, hospital, and schools are located. In La Lima, we only have an elementary school.

Our lifestyle is very modest. We are totally dependent on the weather. If there is a drought, or - on the contrary - too much rain, our harvest can fail, and we suffer from hunger for several months. In our village, it is almost impossible to live from something other than agriculture. The land gives us life, it gives us our daily bread. Some of our neighbors have decided to travel to the United States illegally, to escape poverty and try to improve the economic situation of their families from 'up north'.

Some have succeeded. Others have failed and returned home. Regretful, hurt, or ashamed for not being able to provide for their family. And a few have lost their lives in the attempt. Those of us who remain here are determined to stay. Although life in our village is not easy, this is where we were born. And this is where we will die. 

Despite the obstacles we must face, we are happy here. Life is simple and healthy. We are in the middle of nature and enjoy incredibly pleasant weather. The temperature rarely rises above 27 degrees (80 Fahrenheit), and rarely drops below 15 (60 Fahrenheit). There is shade and there is tranquility. Here, we only know the word 'stress' from the dictionary, and from what we hear from relatives who live up there, in the United States.  

In La Lima, we are dedicated to various agricultural activities. We grow corn, sugar cane, some tomatoes and onions, but mostly coffee. As members of Cafesmo, we have access to Cafesmo's facilities, and also enjoy more direct access to international markets.

We do not have solar dryers to prepare specialty coffees, but thanks to our location in the mountains, the climate is most helpful. At 1,300 meters, the nights are cool, and during and after the harvest season it rarely rains. Thus, we are able to dry our coffees in the daytime sun, and we receive technical support from Cafesmo, which accompanies us throughout the process. Together, we are able to produce a good volume and offer a consistent quality of clean coffees. 

In addition, all of our farms are certified! We all have the fair trade, organic, and RFA certifications. Thus, we guarantee not only the quality of the coffee, but also respect for the environment, and for the people who work with us. 

Technical data of the community

Estimated cultivated area: 8 Ha approx.

Altitude : between 1300 - 1500 masl.

Most important varieties: Ihcafe 90, Obata, Pacas.

Producers members of Cafesmo: 11

Estimated production in a harvest of SCA 81-83 coffees: 8,000 kilo

Certifications: Fair Trade, Organic, RFA