2016 Harvest Update: San Jeronimo Miramar

It’s an exciting time here in Guatemala during the coffee harvest!!! In some regions the last picking has just finished, whereas in others the harvest has been a little delayed. In Huehuetenango it’s been raining, which is really uncharacteristic for this time of year. When it rains, it is for three days at a time. This is a problem if you’re drying coffee on patios. It’s ok for parchment in the first two days on the patio, but afterwards it’s a huge issue. This year’s rain patterns are making more producers think about building covered, raised beds for next season.

Last Sunday we visited an amazing farm, San Jeronimo Miramar. It’s possibly the most beautiful farm I have ever visited. It has tropical rainforests, distinctive shade trees, otters and lots and lots of coffee birds including parrots and toucans!! It’s incredible.

This farm encompasses many levels of altitude. The coffee quality at each level is absolutely exceptional, even at lower elevation areas. San Jeronimo grows over 50 varietals of coffee, and we are really excited to showcase some of them in the near future. The farm also supports local research scientists by providing lab space and materials for their research on parasites, eliminating broca (coffee berry borer beetles), tea composting, and more.

The farm has benefited from this research as they have been able to reduce the local broca population by a significant amount using allies found in nature - the heros - including wasps (which act as parasitoids) and a special microbe. The farm keeps a physical record of it's broca count in the glass bottles shown below. Through a proactive effort, the broca count reduced from 19.9 million in 2007 to just under 627,000 in 2015.

This week we cupped a round of beautiful candidates from El Salvador. We tried some really delicious honeys, naturals and washed processed coffees. The naturals in particular were really unique. We are going to have available a limited selection from El Salvador, so reserve your interest now.

Coffee farmers across the country are obsessive and relentless in their pursuit of quality. Each producer is investing in improvements in quality. Market conditions are tough right now and it is quality that will free producers from the fluctuations of the commodity market. I am inspired by each and every one of our farmers, and I look forward to sharing with you of all their hard work and exceptional coffees soon.