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Overview
This 140 year old family owned farm is located at the
Volcano of Santa Ana and has an altitude that goes from 1300 to 1550 meters
above the sea level. Margarita oversees El Manzano farm with the support
of her son Emilio Lopez. The farm is completed devoted to Bourbon.
Its harvest season runs from the second week of December
all the way to the last week of February. The peak of production is reached
from the second week of January to the second week of February. Through
out the year, El Manzano employs a work force of: Two farm managers, one
accountant and fifteen ‘colonos.’ During non harvest season they employ
thirty workers and during harvest season up to 250 pickers are hired, proving
job for a total of 290 people in one year.
At El Manzano, coffee pruning is done under different
systems depending on skilful analysis based on experience, multiple stem
and appreciative pruning are the most frequent practices. The coffee lot
for this competition was picked the first week of February, only fully ripen
cherries were allowed and sorting was done to avoid any green beans.
El Manzano’s ecosystem is made up of: birds such as torogoz,
chiltota, chara, white hawk, chiripio, parakeets, urracas, zanates, vultures,
cardinals and other animals like snakes, lizards, frogs, smalls rodents
like rabbits, weasels and possums, among others. Margarita and Emilio have
an annual reforestation program consisting in replanting native species
into the farm, and execute activities to control erosion with natural barriers.
They also have a permanent hygienic plan inside the farm to keep it spotless
and without any litter.
In El Manzano’s future plans, they are working towards
getting a better cup quality, establishing good and steady relationship
with buyers through mutual visits and share their coffee experience. They
are also seeking a Rainforest alliance certification and having a small
clinic for their 290 workers.
Other Statistics
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,200 mm
Average Temperature: 20 ºC
Type of Soil: Sandy Loam
Type of Shade: Ingas and mountain trees such as cedar, walnut, caoba, cortez,
etc.
Annual Production: 2,400 bags (60kg)
Mill and company where lot was process: Beneficio El Paraiso
Latitude: N13º 54' 12.0" Longitude: W89º 39' 36.2"
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