Follow Us on Twitter | Contact | Where to Buy | Free Coffee Break | E-News Subscribe
Las Hermosas is Reunion Island’s first major project involving a direct and long-term relationship with farmers at origin. In the small region of Tolima, Colombia, a co-op of 32 farmers produce one of the best Colombian coffees we have ever discovered. Please check out the project updates posted below.
The Las Hermosas project started in 2004 when we discovered an exceptional Colombian coffee from a farming co-operative in the South Tolima region. To support this co-op, we have committed to donating to projects that improve the standard of living, while ensuring a consistent supply of world-class coffee for our customers.
In 2005, we donated funds to the construction of parabolic drying beds for 200 small family farms. Our second project was to outfit a cupping lab in Ibague with the equipment required for coffee quality analysis. The lab is used to train farmers in the art of cupping. Until recently, many of the regions’ coffee farmers had never tasted their own coffee! By learning to cup their coffees, they are able to understand what buyers are looking for in higher-priced specialty coffees. Improving their quality increases demand for their beans and yields higher prices, creating a sustainable system.
As a result of these projects, farmers from the Las Hermosas co-operative entered beans in the national Cup of Excellence competition and placed 1st, 3rd and 7th. This year, we will be supporting the installation of new sanitation systems at four rural schools to protect local water sources and create a healthier school environment.
Enjoy the delicious aroma and smooth, bright flavor of Colombia Las Hermosas knowing that you are supporting sustainable coffee farming.
Colombia Las Hermosas™ is the result of a mutually beneficial partnership between Reunion Island Coffee and the community of Libano, in the lush Tolima region. This coffee farming co-op is the winner of our Summer Seasonal Harvest Award. Las Hermosas™ is a limited-supply coffee named in honor of a nearby National Park that has played a key role in preserving Colombia’s biodiversity.
The initiative started with our search for a consistent source for the finest Colombian coffee. We have found that source with the 32 family farms in the highlands around the village of Libano.
These farmers benefit from the ideal climate, soil and elevation of their area, while taking great pride in their careful cultivation, harvesting and processing techniques. The result is a coffee that embodies everything that connoisseurs look for in a Colombian bean: very strong aroma, medium body and a fresh, slightly sweet quality. In appreciation for these characteristics, we have awarded the farmers of Libano with our Summer Seasonal Harvest Award.
In addition to paying a fair price for this coffee, we are working with this co-op to develop the infrastructure they need to compete with larger corporate farms. Our first project involved donating materials for the construction of parabolic drying beds for each family’s farm. These beds allow farms to evenly dry their harvested coffee beans more uniformly for consistent quality.
Our next project will be the construction of a cupping laboratory for coffee analysis. The testing equipment in this lab will help these independent farmers to remain self-sufficient, maintain their quality and continue to earn a premium price for their product. We will announce future projects as they are developed and approved.
This project has been developed with the support of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia. This organization is entirely owned and controlled by Colombia’s coffee farmers (cafeteros) of whom there are over 500,000. For more information, please visit www.juanvaldez.com or for information on our exclusive Las Hermosas coffee, visit askjuan.com and click on the Tolima link to see Las Hermosas.
Privacy/Legal Statement