Royal has been working with Ricardo Valdivieso for many years and so we know a lot about him. His life and relationship with coffee is an amazing story to get to know. Ricardo’s grandfather (an important statesman in the history of El Salvador) purchased the land in 1870 and named the finca after his wife, Leticia. Finca Santa Leticia was passed down to Ricardo during a time of great turmoil in El Salvador’s history. At the peak of conflict in the 1980s, Ricardo came face to face with a firing squad in defense of his family’s land. He was not shot but spent many years in exile before he was able to return to Finca Santa Leticia. Over the decades his career as a coffee producer has been challenged in just about every way you could imagine. Read more here. Today, Ricardo works with his daughter, Monica, to protect their groves of Pacamara and Bourbon varieties from leaf rust. In addition to coffee, Monica operates a beautiful hotel and restaurant at Finca Santa Leticia. Mayan artifacts that Ricardo’s father discovered on the property have also been preserved as an archaeological site for visitors to enjoy. During the harvest a great deal of care and focus is dedicated to picking the best quality of cherry and gently drying it on clay patios. We certainly look forward to tasting this coffee every year.
