Guatemala - Flor del Cafe Organic

Oswaldo Pérez Pérez is a pioneer of coffee cultivation in the lush, high-altitude town of Agua Dulce in the province of Huehuetenango.

Oswaldo fought against odds and challenging logistics to establish coffee production in this remote region, an effort that has now benefitted three generations of his family. The work was worth it, as the ideal growing conditions and rich soil of Finca Flor del Cafe lend a complexity and vibrancy to the farm's crop.

When Oswaldo passed, he left parts of his estate to each child. While the siblings eventually lost interest in coffee, the youngest son - also named Oswaldo - grew a passion for the work. Over the years, he slowly acquired his siblings lots to reunite and preserve the family estate. As fertilizer costs rose, Oswaldo turned to organic farming methods and fertilizers, adapting to his lands needs and eventual organic certification for the estate.

Today, Oswaldo and his son, Max, continue the legacy of Flor del Cafe, honoring the family's heritage. Max, who is a highly regarded producer with his own farms, makes organic fertilizer for Finca del Cafe using coffee pulp and organic matter from chickens at his Acatenango farm.