Overview

La Divina Providencia farm was acquired 5 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.

Last year, Roberto bought a neighboring property to this farm ending up with 22 hectares of coffee, last winter he planted 4,000 new plants, 50% Bourbon and 50% Kenya. Since the day he bought La Divina Providencia, he has been doing replanting activities, 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 believes. For 2008, he wants to replant 5,000 new coffee trees, in same percentage as last year to create improved vegetative system.

Roberto was finally able to set his wet mill facility, looking forward to keep better traceability and marketing quality coffees. He chose a traditional wet mill of the Pacas type, and he is exclusively processing coffee from his farm. He also built 120 “pariguelas” for drying parchment and also looking to better preserve his coffee quality.

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 normally supports one nearby school. 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”.

Additional information
Location: Cantón Palo de Campana, Santa Ana
Coffee varieties: Bourbón, Kenya
Type of Shade: Ingas Sp., pepeto peludo, trompillo, copalchí, laurel, San Andrés, zapote, avocado, limoncillo, cedar, etc.
Average Annual Rainfall: 1,950 mm
Average Temperature: 20º C
Type of Soil: Sandy Clayish loam
Annual Production: (60kg) 190 bags
Mill and company where lot was process: Divina Providencia Wet Mill
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’’