Finca El Fresno

I am an indigenous woman, a coffee producer, and naturally, a coffee drinker. I love being the one who grows and harvests the coffee I drink every morning.

My childhood and youth were difficult due to our rural environment and the hardships typical of the region we come from—a mountain range of narrow trails with no access to transportation at the time. We had no electricity, running water, or other basic services. Fortunately, we had a primary school in our town, but by the time we started middle school, my siblings, friends, and I had to walk three hours just to get there. Weekends and holidays were meant for helping in the fields and bringing food to my father at the farm. During the harvest, it meant going out to pick cherries from early morning and not returning until very late. Eating meals in those coffee fields was what I enjoyed most. I still remember the shade of the trees, the birdsong, and later, the crickets announcing that it was time to go home. I am still fortunate enough to enjoy some of those things; the saddest part is that my father is no longer with me.

He passed away 13 years ago, and his farm passed into my hands. Because of this, it holds immense sentimental value, in addition to the economic value it represents for my family today. Although the coffee plants are not the same ones from 30 years ago, whenever I am in those groves, I still feel my father's presence. In his memory, my farm keeps the name he gave it: El Fresno. As a little girl, I never asked him why he named it like that; I associate it with an old ash tree that stood on the edge of the property until a windstorm blew it down four years ago.

Not all of my land is planted with coffee because preserving the habitat for the region's flora and fauna is extremely important to me. Native trees are conserved on farms, and I do not use synthetic agrochemicals. I prepare my own organic inputs, and the maintenance of my coffee farm is entirely manual. This allows me to provide employment for the men and women in my community—together, we clear the land, plant, and fertilize. Every harvest is an opportunity to support many people who, like me, fight tirelessly to survive.

The opportunity to participate in the Cup of Excellence competition, and for this lot to reach international markets, gives me great satisfaction and a deep sense of gratitude toward everyone who works hard all year round to achieve this quality. All the effort and dedication are worth it if my coffee can be rewarded for its true value. I am grateful to the Organizing Committee for giving an opportunity to those of us who, despite plagues, harsh weather, and other adversities, keep moving forward, trusting in our work, and keeping our coffee farms alive.