HONDURAS- IDALIA VENTURA (WASHED)

This micro-lot was produced by Idalia Ventura on her 2-acre farm called Los Nietos in the municipality of Santa Elena within the department of La Paz, Honduras.  Idalia is part of a select group of producers who work with Catracha Coffee Company, which organizes monthly educational seminars that provide guidance for harvesting and coffee processing that is focused on quality.

Traditionally, farmers in Santa Elena have sold their coffee in cherry to a middleman, eliminating the possibility of earning better prices based on the quality of the coffee.  With improved prices, Idalia has been able to improve her farm management practices using lime to control the pH of the soil, fertilizing with organic compost, and spraying organic fungicides to control levels of leaf rust.  These actions have improved the health of her farm and the quality of her coffee production.

Idalia processes her coffee using her own micro-mill to depulp, ferment, wash and dry her coffee before delivering it to Catracha Coffee. With profits from the sale of her own micro-lot, Idalia has created a small business selling groceries in her community and added raised drying beds.  Idalia loves to spend time with all of her grandchildren, so much so that she named her farm the grandchildren (los nietos).