Finca Buenos Aires FW - Oscar Alvarado

Oscar Alvarado is a highly dedicated coffee producer. He’s not alone, however. In Pitalito, Huila, where his farm Finca Buenos Aires lies, farmers are increasingly turning towards specialty coffee production as a means of improving their livelihoods. Oscar is supported in his efforts by the Cooperativa Departamental de Caficultores del Huila (Cadefihuila). Established in 1963, Cadefihuila has over 3,800 producer-members, 43 collection sites for coffee and 36 locations where farmers can purchase fertilizers and other inputs. Their wide reach is so important because the geography in Huila is mountainous. Many farms are remote and the roads are often poorly maintained. With more accessible access points for their members, farmers can spend more of their time focusing on their farm and less time and money transporting their coffee to the nearest market. By making the cooperative more accessible to such a broad network of farmers, the cooperative is expanding many farmers’ options for delivering their coffee. By definition, more options create more competition and can help raise the prices farmers receive.

The volcanic soil in Pitalito provides plenty of nutrients for Oscar’s coffee trees. The high altitude of 1,750 to 1,800 meters above sea level offers the warm days and cool nights that are ideal for growing sweet, dense cherry. In addition to coffee, Oscar also plants plantains and cassava, which are both subsistence and cash crops. Pitalito lies in the southern-most part of Huila. Producers are focused almost exclusively on producing specialty coffee. While the majority of trees are either Castillo or Caturra, farmers in Pitalito also cultivate more ‘exotic’ varieties than any other region in Colombia. The high altitude of 1,400 to 1,900 meters above sea level is made even more farmable by the amiable geography. Thanks to gentle, rolling hills, Pitalito is much easier to farm than the steep cliffs that are common in many other regions in Colombia. Most farms sit on a large plateau that looks over the Valley of Laboyos. Farmers here are mainly smallholders. In fact, 80% of coffee farms are smaller than 3 hectares. On smaller farms, nearly all labor is done by the family. Very few farms hire farmhands. As a result, quality can be carefully controlled and families can focus more energy on intensive farming practices that result in high quality coffee. Families take great pride in their coffee production.

Oscar selectively handpicks and pulps his cherry. After pulping, coffee is wet fermented and then washed in clean water before being laid to dry in the sun on the flat roofs of his home and warehouse. Parchment dries for approximately 15 days and then rests 1 to 2 months at the cooperative days before it’s transported to Invercafe Dry Mill in Chinchina, Caldas to be milled and prepared for export.

Pitalito lies in the southernmost part of Huila. Producers are focused almost exclusively on producing specialty coffee. While the majority of trees are either Castillo or Caturra, farmers in Pitalito also cultivate more ‘exotic’ varieties than any other region in Colombia.

The high altitude of 1,400 to 1,900 meters above sea level is made even more farmable by the amiable geography. Thanks to gentle, rolling hills, Pitalito is much easier to farm than the steep cliffs that are common in many other regions in Colombia. Most farms sit on a large plateau that looks over the Valley of Laboyos.

Farmers here are mainly smallholders. In fact, 80% of coffee farms are smaller than 3 hectares. On smaller farms, nearly all labor is done by the family. Very few farms hire farmhands. As a result, quality can be carefully controlled and families can focus more energy on intensive farming practices that result in high-quality coffee. Families take great pride in their coffee production.

The Huila region is one of the most well-known coffee growing areas of Colombia. The Department of Huila has a population of 1.125 million and is located in the southwest of the country. The capital of the department is Neiva, a city of about 380,000.  

Along with Cauca and Nariño, Huila is one the three departments where the Colombian Massif is located. A massif is a group of mountain ranges and the Colombian Massif, which is known locally as Nudo de Almaguer, provides up to 70% of safe drinking and agricultural water for the Colombian population. 

The Magdalena River, Colombia’s largest river, runs through the region, providing plenty of water for coffee farming and generating (directly and indirectly) up to 86% of Colombia's GDP. The mountain range also features the fertile volcanic soil so typical to the Andean Mountains. 

Great coffee is built on great relationships. We’ve been working with our in-country partner in Colombia, Cafexport, to find farmers who are producing delicious coffees and connect them with you.Cafexport, our in-country partner, is built on the strength of 20 years of meaningful and productive relationships with Colombian coffee cooperatives.

Most of the coffees we purchase from Cafexport are the product of many years of partnership between Cafexport, cooperatives, and farmers. Many are also certified, traceable coffees whose certification, combined with high quality processing and preparation, are sought after by established roasters across the globe.

The majority of the cooperatives with whom we work through Cafexport are from the regions of Caldas, Huila, Tolima, Antioquia, Quindío, Santander, and Magdalena. We like to keep our list of sourcing regions long because diversification allows us to offer coffee with different specifications, flavors and harvest and shipping times to suit every need.