Colombia Cauca La Sierra AA

Coffee cultivation from small family-owned farms is the backbone of production in Colombia. Banexport, a Colombian export company, works directly with many of these producers who have a shared commitment for exquisite coffee processing, and loving care for their farms and the environment. Banexport helps producers gain access to technical support regarding best practices for farm management, processing the harvest, and cupping feedback, which helps producers improve the quality of their coffee. The model of collaborative effort produces traceable lots with vibrant regional profiles. This lot comes from an individual producer named Gustavo Molano Ordoñez, who has a 11-acre farm called El Agrado located in the municipality of La Sierra within the department of Cauca. With guidance from Banexport, Gustavo follows a strict post-harvest protocol using his own micro-mill, which allows for consistency. Gustavo focuses on selective picking, then floats the cherries to remove damaged and underdeveloped beans, depulps to remove the skin and ferments for 36 hours and then washes the coffee to remove the mucilage. The wet parchment is dried to 11 percent moisture over a period of 13 days on raised beds. After processing, Banexport provides crucial logistical support for things like warehousing and milling coffee for export to the international market, which provides better income for Milton to reinvest in his farm and strengthen his family's livelihood.