Overview

Kaquend Farm has its origin in the division of “Três Barras Farm”, made two centuries ago, which was traditionally known by its high quality coffee production. The area of Kaquend Farm, where it was produced the champion coffee in the 9th “Cup of Excellence”, belongs to the producer Mr. Ralph de Castro Junqueira, who manages the business of the farm, makes part of a family with more than two siblings; whose mother is Mrs. Margarida Maria de Castro and father, Mr. José Wagner Ribeiro Junqueira. The family has a cultivated area of 160 hectares of coffee, from several varieties, which is spread trough six properties of the group of the champion coffee, which includes the “Serra da Três Barras” Farm as the main property; place where the coffee produced is processed, obtaining an annual average of 3500 processed bags. The coffee plantations are cultivated in a fertile soil, with variable altitudes between 3608 and 4757 feet, peculiar topography of “Serra da Mantiqueira” region and mild climate all year long, with variable rain precipitation between 1700 and 2200mm a year, and well-defined seasons. Always trying to develop the coffee plantations in tune with the nature, the owner’s family does the best to preserve the areas of native wood and water springs found in his properties. The group, which has been living almost only from the countryside activities for eight generations, counts nowadays on the cooperation of forty fixed employees and their families, and also with the job of other forty workers in the harvest time, when the search for labor hand is bigger.

Processing system of the coffee beans

Due to the uneven soil where the coffee is cultivated, the harvest is done by hand, over a cloth, avoiding the contact with the ground, from where they were taken right away to the place of preparation. Once it is pulped, the coffee berries are taken to the hanging patios to complete the process of drying. After that, they are kept in wood storehouses to rest from 60 to 90 days. After the coffee being processed, it is taken to the COCARIVE warehouses, where they are analyzed and prepared following the requirements of the market, and they are kept there for sale.

Concern on the quality

Aiming to the quality of the coffee produced, but also keeping in mind the productivity, the group counts on the technical support of COCARIVE, in a partnership with EMATER – MG. As a result of the recognition for their constant search for quality, the family received the following prizes:

Contests of Quality Brazil Coffees – BSCA

• Ralph de Castro Junqueira, “Kaquend Farm” – finalist of the 4th “Cup of Excellence”, 2002.
• José Wagner Ribeiro Junqueira, “Serra da Três Barras Farm” – finalist of the 4th “Cup of Excellence”, 2002.
• Kleber de Castro Junqueira, “Araucária Farm” – finalist of the 5th “Cup of Excellence”, 2003.
• Ralph de Castro Junqueira, “Kaquend Farm” – Champion of the 9th “Cup of Excellence”, 2008.

Prize of Quality Illy Brazil for Espresso

• Ralph de Castro Junqueira, “Kaquend Farm” – finalist of the 15th prize.
• José Wagner Ribeiro Junqueira, “Serra da Três Barras Farm” – finalist of the 16th and 18th prizes.
• Herbert de Castro Junqueira, “Velho Farm” – finalist of the 17th prize.

Contests of Quality Minas Coffee – EMATER/MG

• José Wagner Ribeiro Junqueira, “Serra da Três Barras Farm” – finalist of the 2nd Contest, in 2005.
• Ralph de Castro Junqueira, “Kaquend Farm” – finalist of the 3rd Contest, in 2006, and champion of the 4th Contest, in 2007.

It is important to state that Kaquend Farm, as well as Serra das Três Barras Farm, are registered in the Program of Coffee Certification “Certifica Minas”, from the state of Minas Gerais.