COLOMBIA [SOUTH AMERICA]

COLOMBIA ORGANIC SMBC MESA DE LOS SANTOS CATURRA GRAINPRO is sourced from a family-owned estate located near Bucaramanga in the department of Santander, Colombia. In 1840, the 800-acre estate was named La Mesa de Los Santos (the Table of the Saints) by the founder Telmo J. Diaz, who managed the estate with generosity, integrity, and the search for perfection. The estate’s heritage has been passed down through the family to Telmo’s grandson Oswaldo Acevedo who adheres to his grandfather’s life-long principles. Royal has had a long history with Oswaldo and La Mesa de Los Santos, which started over a decade ago with a fair compensation program designed to pay wages well above the Colombian minimum salary to the hardworking farmers cultivating and processing the coffee. Because of the program, workers and their families have also benefited from free health care, education stipends for children, insurance coverage for temporary or permanent work disability, and a pension fund to provide retirement benefits. Oswaldo also continues his dedicated organic and sustainable farming practices to protect the health of environment and the workers.