Family Ruiz Silva comes from La Paz village in the municipality of Sotara . We have been living there more than 50 years. My family has 5 people: My husband (Alirio), my children (Yimer, María and Carolina ) and I. I bought the farm 17 years ago with a loan of the bank. It cost me $1.500.000 (around USD 652) in that time. Today, thanks to the coffee, I have built my house, paid for my children's education and also making some improvements in the house and farm. I have worked all the time with the support of the Committee of Coffee Growers and the Extension Service.

Environmental Care

The farm has its own source of fresh water, which is protected; it also has an area with native forest. The farm has an ecological Beneficiadero and a patio for sun drying system. We have an adequate system for waste disposal of solid and liquid products.

Farm is cultivated with clean agronomical practices, such as cultural control, protection of the soil with organic material and it is also semi shade grown.

Coffee Processing Information

Main harvest is in the first semester of the year, from April through June, we have a fly crop too, from October to November. The distribution is 90% in the main crop and 10% in the fly crop.

We fertilize twice per year, one with chemical fertilizer according to soil analysis and other one with organic products from the farm.

We take control of the broca with cultural practices: Re-Re.

Other Statistics:
Annual Production: 79.5 bags
Soil Type: Volcanic  
Annual Precipitation: 1,875 millimeters
Shade Grown Type: 25% Shade Grown 
Water Source: 100 % Semi shade grown
No. Permanent Employees: 4
No. Temporary Employees: 15