Overview

Granja São Francisco has great tradition and was bought in 1937 by the current owner’s grandfather, Mr. Octaviano Pinto Lopes Ribeiro, who is always in the memory of his family.

The patriarch of the family, a renowned and experienced manager in the coffee exportation area in the 30s and 40s, acquired prestige in the businesses where he worked due to his great entrepreneurial perspectives and his enterprising spirit, which made the recognition of the peculiar qualities of the coffee plantations in Minas possible, through the company “Pinto Lopes e CIA Ltda”. From that time on, he identified and appreciated the potential of the small region of Carmo de Minas, for the planting of the high quality coffee that is produced and recognized nowadays.

In 1974, the young Otaviano left his hometown (Rio de Janeiro), going to Carmo de Minas, where he undertook the management of his family’s property.

Soon, the young economist, as a part of his new task of administering the farm, chose dynamic and professional management of the farm, determining, among other things, the complete renewal of the existing coffee plantation and the cultivation of new varieties, which were more adequate and adapted to the region.

These varieties, which are cultivated at an altitude varying between 2,952 and 4,265 feet, are grown on soil peculiar to the region, considered to be the ideal environment for them. And this is not only due to the quality of the land, the mild climate all year, the well defined seasons and the well distributed rain precipitation, but also due to the beauty of the place, where the activities are conducted in harmony with nature.

The respect and care for the environment has been a part of the rules of the property exploration, and the ecological awareness of the owners and their family, as well as of the employees that work on the farm, have preserved the exuberant flora and fauna of the place, a typical region of “Serra da Mantiqueira”. It is enough to say that the city of Carmo de Minas is supplied by the generous spring water that flows clean and pure from there.

For the success of its business, Granja São Francisco currently has 12 direct workers, who live on the farm with their families and are provided with health care and education. At harvest time, the search for temporary labor for the work, which is done by hand, guarantees a job and income to other workers that come from the city.

In 2007, Granja São Francisco reached the 3rd position in the category “Natural Coffees” in the 4th Minas Gerais Coffee Quality Contest, promoted by EMATER – MG. In 2008 it was awarded the sixth place in the 9th "Cup of Excellence” Brazilian Coffee Quality Contest and Auction (Concurso de Qualidade Cafés do Brasil e Leilão).

Coffee bean processing system

The coffee was harvested by hand during the months of June and July 2008, over a cloth, avoiding contact with the soil. The drying was started on the patio and finished in a rotary dryer. Still on the cloths, it was taken to the wooden storehouses to rest for an average period of 60 days, until it could be processed.

The coffee processing infrastructure has machines such as a cleaner and a natural coffee pulper, 3,000 m² of concrete patios, three mechanical dryers, wooden storehouses for the coffee to rest and processing machines.

Quality concerns

The coffee producer Mr. Otaviano Ribeiro Ceglia, concerned with the quality of the coffee produced, which can increase the value of final product, but without taking into consideration the plantation’s productivity, currently has the technological and agronomical support of COCARIVE, in a partnership with EMATER – MG. The “Granja São Francisco” certification process is in progress, and their rules are already being followed.