Overview

Gracefully located at “Potrero Grande Arriba” almost at the top of the Santa Ana Volcano, Miralvalle farm enjoys a breath-taking view, climate, rainfall and the care of her owner. Jaime Riera is a gastroenterologist and also a coffee producer. He inherited this farm from her mother, Marta Dolores Menéndez de Riera a few years ago, and together they still supervise all the work. This farm was bought by his late father, Amadeo Riera y Solsona more than 20 years ago.

Some of the cultural practices they develop at the farm are the continuous pruning of the coffee and shade trees, weed control, replanting and renewing the farm, all this work using the traditional methods. Also, because of the high altitude in which Miralvalle is located the farm ripens slowly, and this year they had to wait until February to harvest appropriately when the farm had evenly ripened. Finding workers around this area is very difficult because people migrated to the lower parts since the eruption of the Santa Ana volcano in 2005. Only 2 people live at the farm, the manager, Francisco Recinos and his wife, but for the harvest, they employ around 70 selected pickers from the surrounding areas, and pay them almost 40% above the legal wage.

Jaime thinks the reason why this Farm was awarded this year is the excellent quality of the bourbon variety, also its altitude and location. He is highly motivated to keep up with the optimum harvest and sorting processes to improve the quality each year. He thinks the key to this is motivating the people that work the farm, teaching them the importance of their role, and improving the benefits for everyone involved.

Additional information
Location: Cantón Potrero Grande Arriba, Santa Ana
Coffee varieties: Bourbon, Pacas, Kenya
Type of Shade: Ingas: Cuje, Pepeto peludo, Guachipilín, Pine tree, Cypress, Mundani, Eucaliptus, Avocado, etc.
Average Annual Rainfall: 3,000 mm
Average Temperature: 21º C
Type of Soil: Sandy loam
Annual Production: (60kg) 210 bags
Mill and company where lot was process: Cooperativa Cuzcachapa de R.L.
Fauna: Rabbits, Tacuazines, Armadillos, Deer, Cotuza, Different kinds of snakes, Sparrows, Slate-colored solitaire, Oriole, Gold fronted woodpecker, Quail, etc.

GPS Coordinates
Latitude: N 13º 52’ 1.3”
Longitude: W 89º 36’ 58”