22 LA CANOA Guatemala 2023

Finca La Canoa is managed by coffee producer Mario Friely, an agronomist who has been involved in coffee cultivation in the area since 1990. He has overseen 33 consecutive harvests with a team of 10 people who have supported him throughout this time.
Finca La Canoa was established in the 1980s as a plantation with selected varieties, aiming for optimal production and excellent cup quality. However, due to the impact of coffee leaf rust (Roya) that affected Guatemala in 2014, the plantation suffered a decline. In 2015, producer Mario Friely became involved in Finca La Canoa as his personal project and took action, including establishing shade with cuje and gravileo trees, preserving natural forest shade from pine and oak trees. The plantation was also renewed with careful attention to nutrition and crop protection.
These actions allowed the recovery of the productive unit, and since then (2016), the farm has been producing excellent quality harvests with fully ripe beans. The fruits are handpicked based on the brix degrees as the harvesting criterion. The processing starts with pre-pulping, followed by fermentation, oxidation, washing, and patio drying, with the final stage being drying on African raised beds in a controlled environment. Currently, the farm produces washed, natural, and honey processed coffees to offer customers.
From 2016 to 2023, Finca La Canoa consecutively obtained first and secund places in the “Sur Oriente” competition organized by Anacafé (Jutiapa, Jalapa, and Santa Rosa) in different categories such as wash, honey and natural coffees. In 2023, the productive unit participated for the first time in the COE (Cup of Excellence) and achieved the 22nd place in the competition.