El Salvador Finca Serbia Bourbon Geisha

El Salvador Finca Serbia Bourbon Geisha

Balcanes Coffee Estates is located in the mountainous basin of Santa Ana in El Salvador, near the Santa Ana volcano and Lake Coatepeque. Balcanes Coffee Estates is committed to sustainable, consistent coffee quality, using the best agricultural practices in the industry. The “Bird Friendly” certification is extremely important because it provides an excellent source of natural insect control, which contributes to the balance of the ecosystem on our coffee farms,” says Fernando Lima of Balcanes Coffee Estates. “For decades, we have identified with nature and wildlife on our growing lands. Observing the diversity of birds brings us peace, stemming from the harmony of nature, which is now seriously threatened by climate change and degradation caused by human activity. A single drop of water does not make a sea, but it can influence public awareness and the needs of all animals and wildlife.”

Finca Serbia was established in 1930. Since its founding, its main activity has been growing coffee. The farm grows coffee in the shade of trees and, to counter climate change, has expanded their range to include cedars, oaks, and balsam trees. These large, tall trees provide better protection from the more intense summer sun. In addition to renewing the shade trees, more than ten years ago Finca Serbia also renewed some of its coffee trees, planting varieties resistant to leaf rust. This strategy paid off: while Central America was hit by a widespread rust epidemic in 2012, Finca Serbia was somehow spared.

The coffee grown by the Lima brothers’ family is processed at their own “Balcanes Mill” and then transported a short distance to the town of Santa Ana, where it undergoes further processing and preparation for export at the Cuzcachapa cooperative. Fernando serves as a producer-member, as well as a guide and development manager for other producer-members seeking ways to reach the market.