Colombia Nariño - Huellas de Encanto

Grower: 30 women producers organized around Asociación Ecoterra SAS

Altitude: 1800 – 2100 masl

Variety: Colombia, Caturra, and Typica

Soil: Clay minerals

Region: Municipalities of La Unión, Cartago, Génova, and San Lorenzo, Nariño, Colombia

Process: Fully washed and dried on patios and elevated tables inside solar dryers that provide protection from the rain

Harvest: May - August | June - September

Certification: Organic

Coffee broker: Royal Coffee https://royalcoffee.com/

Sourcing Details

Want to support women in coffee? Huellas de Encanto is a group of 30 women producers in Nariño organized through the Asociación Ecoterra SAS, who are working together to find an international market for their coffee.  Organizing as a group was a critical first step because these women are individually cultivating coffee on small farms of just a few acres.   The women have leaders from each community to establish a larger network of support.  The model of collaboration produces a traceable community blend with a vibrant regional profile.

Processing Details

This particular lot was produced by 30 women producers in the municipalities of La Unión, Cartago, Génova, and San Lorenzo. During the harvest, each producer follows a strict protocol which includes picking cherries at optimum ripeness, hand sorting, floating to remove damaged and undeveloped beans, depulping and fermenting.  Fermentation is done in sealed containers, creating a controlled environment for prolonged fermentations of up to 72 hours.  After fermentation, the parchment-covered seed is washed and placed on patios or raised beds to slowly dry to 11%.

Exporting Details

An export company called Mastercol provides crucial logistical support for things like warehousing and milling coffee for export to the international market, which provides better income for everyone to reinvest in their farms and strengthen their families’ livelihoods.