Overview

La Divina Providencia farm was acquired 4 years ago by Roberto Ulloa, fourth generation coffee grower, who transformed the farm from an almost abandoned plot due to the price crisis, to a farm that ranked among the top 23 lots to be auction on June 28th. Roberto is aware that he found a jewel when he purchased this farm, since the cup quality has shown remarkable performance at several cupping events in prior years, so he is now focusing in nurturing what Mother Nature already gave to this farm. The farm is privileged to be located at the coffee golden belt well above 5,000 feet, blessed with rich volcanic soils and grown with nearly Bourbon and Kenya trees that reach an average of 40 years old.

Since the day he bought it, he has been doing replanting activities, so far he has replanted 3.5 ha and he is renovating 4.9 more with Kenya variety which right now accounts for 2% of the farm, one day he expects to have only Kenya variety at his farm while leaving only the best Bourbon trees. He believes a lot in the quality of Kenya variety, which was introduced many years ago in the area by one of the most respected growers in those days. “It is not a high yielder but the quality is amazing… that’s what I’m looking for” he added.

Roberto is also involved in designing and setting up coffee mills, mainly ecological ones, and works supervising other farms as well. He currently has a project of setting an ecological mill of the Pacas type to process his family coffee. He also plans to use all the by-products back into the farms. He’s also thinking on drying in “parigüelas”.

Divina Providencia has been managed under conventional practices but also uses organic inputs as fertilizers, coffee tree pruning is appreciative and vegetative tissue is managed by multiple-stem method. Harvesting goes from February to April due to the microclimate and therefore slow maturing process. Common fauna of the region is also found here: Squirrels, armadillos, toucans, orioles, herons, hares and owls, among others. Roberto is also involved with the community and he donates pedagogic packages for the children in two schools near his farm.

His hopes someday to find a buyer that want to be his partner for life, Roberto said: “Even when I gave away this farm to my son I want him to keep the relationship untouched”.

Other Statistics:
Coffee varieties: 98% Bourbón, 2% Kenya
Type of Shade: Ingas Sp., pepeto peludo, trompillo, copalchí, laurel, San Andrés, zapote, avocado, limoncillo, cedar, etc.
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,300 mm
Average Temperature: 16º C
Type of Soil: Sandy loam
Annual Production: (60kg) 95 bags
Mill and company where lot was process: Beneficio Las Tres Puertas, J. Hill & Co.
Fauna: Squirrels, armadillos, toucans, agouti, orioles, herons, hares and owls, among others

GPS Coordinates:
Latitude: N 13º 52’ 13.12’’
Longitude: W 89º 36’ 30.82’’