Colombia Antioquia Giraldo Exotico GrainPro

Coffee Background

The Giraldo Exotico group is expert at being small and big at the same time to ensure their coffee finds its way to us. Like the vast majority of coffee producers in Colombia, this group of just 81 producers cultivate, harvest and process coffee on small family owned farms. With just a few acres, each member manages their own micro-mills where meticulous care in cherry selection, depulping, fermenting, and drying coffee takes place. The attention to details has earned Giraldo Exotico a reputation for producing specialty coffee. And the women of Giraldo Exotico have formed a group to bring more recognition to their participation in the coffee industry. While these small distinctions are important, the Giraldo Exotico group continues to work closely with Cooperativa de Caficultores del Occidente de Antioquia (COOPENOCC), a large regional umbrella cooperative that supports producers through programs like the pilot farm project, which organizes annual visits to model farms in other regions of Colombia. COOPENOCC also provides crucial logistical support for things like local warehouses and managing certification requirements for the Giraldo Exotico members. COOPENOCC keeps strong ties with the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC) to gain better access to technical support for best agricultural practices and international markets for exporting coffee. In addition to marketing coffee internationally, the FNC provides producers with financing, training, and technical assistance to improve coffee quality. The FNC also strives to improve the quality of life for coffee producers and their families through projects promoting income diversification and education.