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Overview
Alejandro’s great grandfather Marcial Pacheco was the one who started
producing coffee, and now Alejandro represents the 5th generation of
dedicated coffee growers. It all started in Comasagua, near the San
Salvador Volcano. Alejandro’s father, Napoleon Duarte bought a farm
around 1950 and baptized it “Claro de Luna” (Moonlight). Alejandro
assumed the management of it when he was only 17 years old, and coffee
has been his passion since then. As the years went by, he funded F.D.C.
Inversiones as a society between him, his wife and children.
When La Ilusión entered the family’s property 5 years ago, the farm
was completely neglected, but they have been working hard to recover
this plantation, and in approximately two years it will be fully
restored. The Duarte family is planning on using multiple stem and
multiple verticals system this next year to increase its productivity.
Alejandro named it “La illusion” because he had always wanted and hoped
to own a coffee farm in strictly high altitude, so this farm made his
dream come true. His son Eduardo, at age 16, found this piece of land
while Alejandro was recovering from a lower back operation, and did all
the negotiations with the former owner. For Alejandro this was a very
proud moment, as he had always taught their children to love coffee
fields.
This is the first time Alejandro participates in Cup of Excellence,
and was motivated by the fact that it represents a great opportunity to
establish a direct relationship with buyers of specialty coffees. The
lot he selected to participate is from Sector 1, which is 3.5 hectares,
and was harvested at optimum ripeness in mid January, to get the last
rainfall from December and January. It was picked during 15 days by 30
pickers, who were instructed to collect only the best, avoiding
over-ripe, immature coffee or defects.
La Ilusión is in the process of getting the Rain Forest Alliance
certification, Alejandro is very oriented towards the conservation of
our environment, and 3 out of the 4 properties this family owns are
already certified, and La Ilusión is on the way. One of their most
important practices is the conservation of the shade trees, and the
natural mountain forest at the top of the farm which is right next to
the “Laguna de las Ranas” (Frog’s Lagoon).
Additional information
Location: Cantón Ojo de Agua, Juayúa
Coffee varieties: Bourbón/Pacas
Type of Shade: Ingas: Pepeto, Copalchí, Bambu, Mountain: Cypress
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,600 mm
Average Temperature: 18º C
Type of Soil: Sandy loam
Annual Production: (60kg) 76.6 bags
Mill and company where lot was process: El Molino / Ing. José Antonio
Salaverría y Co. De C.V.
Fauna: Deer, wild cat, white winged dove, cotuza, tacuacín, squirrel,
armadillo, hawk, lion monkey, etc.
GPS Coordinates
Latitude: 13º 53’ 15.37” N
Longitude: 89º 42’ 56.34’’ W
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