Café Picaflor

History
The husband and wife team of Pablo Luque and Valentina Flores have been married for more than twenty years. They arrived in the Yungas just two years ago, with the support of Valentina’s sister. “We just got here two years ago. One of my sisters showed us a little bit about handling coffee. She showed us to how to dry it.” The family decided to participate in the competition listening to the radio program “The Coffee Hour.” When the producer learned that she had won she was very excited. “I felt great. My heart opened up. ‘Shoot,’ I said, ‘I’ve been doing alright in handling my coffee.’”

Farming coffee has brought many satisfactions to the family. Valentina says, “I love my little plot of coffee. I like it a lot. It’s really good. It provides everything for my family, for our food. It makes me very happy to see that my little coffee won!”

In Valentina’s family, education for their children is very important. “Some of my children are studying in high school, and with a part of the money, we’re going to buy them a computer,” she concluded.

Environmental Care
Organic compost from the discarded coffee pulp, the use of natural barriers, soil protection.

Other Statistics:
Soil Type: Clay Loam
Annual Precipitation: 1500 mm/year
Shade Type: Inga edulis sp.
Weed Control: 2 times a year
Pruning: Growth - Renovation
Productive Practices: Organic compost from the discarded coffee pulp, the use of organic barriers, soil protection.