12 - Capamaco - Ecuador 2023

Vilcabamba, in Quechua, HUILLOPAMBA, means "Sacred Valley," located 40 Km from the city of Loja, is a valley at 1,700 meters above sea level, watered by the Chamba and Uchima rivers. A high percentage of its population reaches an old age with their vital faculties intact, and it is not uncommon to find a centenarian elder performing agricultural tasks like any 40 or 50-year-old farmer. This is the reason why it is known as the "Island of Longevity" which attracts the attention of scientists and tourists. They attribute the good health of the elderly to the water from the rivers that surround it.

Capamaco is a paradisiacal place located in the Vilcabamba Valley, Province of Loja at 1630 m.a.s.l., between the Yambala and Capamaco rivers. It is a site full of energy and life, where we cultivate, select, and carefully process the best coffee beans.

The farm belongs to my wife's father, Mr. Servio Burneo, who is a native of Vilcabamba and has owned the farm for more than 50 years. Previously, it was dedicated to livestock, sugarcane, and short-cycle crops. Since 2015, my wife and I started the project of planting specialty coffee, beginning with the planting of improved Typica. The first years of harvest were almost experimental, and only in 2022 were we able to achieve very good quality, which motivated us to participate in the Golden Cup contest.

Family Information:
Roberto, 54 years old, is married to Yesenia Burneo, 49 years old. Together we have 2 daughters, Juliana, 26, and Sofia, 23 years old, both university graduates.

Number of Workers:
During the harvest season, 2 people are hired, and workers are temporarily hired for specific activities such as weeding, cleaning, pruning, and fertilization.

Other Products on the Farm:
Banana, guineo (a type of banana), citrus, fruits.

Awards in Competitions:
2022 is the first time we participated in the Golden Cup, achieving 20th place.

Future Projections:
Increase production volume with high-quality varieties such as Sidra and Geisha and carry out different processes like honey and natural.