Finca Higuerones

FARM: Finca Higuerones

LOCATION: Moravia, Costa Rica

ALTITUDE: 1250 MASL

VARIETY: Catuai

PROCESSES: Honey

Tasting Notes: Grape Slushee, Mint Chocolate, Walnut

Finca Higuerones is an estate that was purchased by Coopelibertad in the mid-90's and is known in the community for the massive Higuerones trees that are on the property and shade the coffee. The farm is certified by the project Nama Cafe which works with producers to lower environmental impact. Coffees from this estate are processed either honey or fully-washed and then dried for 5-6 days on a patio followed by a final 24-hour mechanical drying.

Leading into the 1960's, there was a growing problem for Costa Rica. Large, profit-focused coffee businesses we're dominating the coffee market in Costa Rica. Small producers were losing out on technical assistance and financing or faced with crushing interest for what financing could be obtained. Ultimately, these small producers couldn't compete, and we're losing their lands. The National Bank of Costa Rica noticed the problem and instituted the Department of Cooperatives to help small producers. In April of 1961, a group of over 200 coffee growers and bankers in the Central Valley came together to form a cooperative and appoint directors who would name the company Coopelibertad, signifying the new independence small producers had gained.

Today, Coopelibertad is the largest cooperative in the Central Valley, collecting coffee from 2500 hectares of its lands, and another 500 independent producers. They provide education and welfare resources, farming assistance, and have many cherry collection points throughout the region.