La Union - Nicaragua 2007

“La Union” Estate, Esteli Donaldo Vanegas Cruz In one of the capital supermarket we were able to find “cafe del Llano” (coffee El Llano). This is not any coffee, it holds the 2nd. Place of the “cup of excellence”. We look for the farm where this delicious coffee is grown. And in the mountains of Pueblo Nuevo, in Esteli through rustic roads, we find Don Donaldo Vanegas Cruz, a former officer of the sandinista government during the 80s. He had the vision to by the farm La Union and it has transformed his life. “After the sandinistas government, I became unemployed. With few “pesos” (some money) that I had saved I bought this little farm... but at that time there wasn’t anything here. It was mainly grazing lands for cattle.... I saw that my neighbors were having good times and so... I decided to grow these little coffee trees. In the coming years they have fed me and my workers” Donaldo underlines. Immediately he invites us to drive around the farm in his old jeep “el consentido” (the spoilt). Climbing the difficult roads he shows us the quality of his coffee plantations. He points in the map the right place where you find this winner of excellence. Donaldo also points out the support of his workers, to whom he is very grateful. “For me, winning the second place of special coffees is a challenge and a commitment...can you imagine how this people feel when they know that their work has come so high?... that is why I must guarantee them the best conditions”. These are the final words of this small producer, who buffers the hot sun with the Typical hat of this northern region of Nicaragua .