La Ilusión - El Salvador 2008 Verified listing

Overview

Alejandro’s great grandfather Marcial Pacheco was the one who started producing coffee, and now Alejandro represents the 5th generation of dedicated coffee growers. It all started in Comasagua, near the San Salvador Volcano. Alejandro’s father, Napoleon Duarte bought a farm around 1950 and baptized it “Claro de Luna” (Moonlight). Alejandro assumed the management of it when he was only 17 years old, and coffee has been his passion since then. As the years went by, he funded F.D.C. Inversiones as a society between him, his wife and children. When La Ilusion entered the family’s property 5 years ago, the farm was completely neglected, but they have been working hard to recover this plantation, and in approximately two years it will be fully restored. The Duarte family is planning on using multiple stem and multiple verticals system this next year to increase its productivity. Alejandro named it “La illusion” because he had always wanted and hoped to own a coffee farm in strictly high altitude, so this farm made his dream come true. His son Eduardo, at age 16, found this piece of land while Alejandro was recovering from a lower back operation, and did all the negotiations with the former owner. For Alejandro this was a very proud moment, as he had always taught their children to love coffee fields. This is the first time Alejandro participates in Cup of Excellence, and was motivated by the fact that it represents a great opportunity to establish a direct relationship with buyers of specialty coffees. The lot he selected to participate is from Sector 1, which is 3.5 hectares, and was harvested at optimum ripeness in mid January, to get the last rainfall from December and January. It was picked during 15 days by 30 pickers, who were instructed to collect only the best, avoiding over-ripe, immature coffee or defects. La Ilusion is in the process of getting the Rain Forest Alliance certification, Alejandro is very oriented towards the conservation of our environment, and 3 out of the 4 properties this family owns are already certified, and La Ilusion is on the way. One of their most important practices is the conservation of the shade trees, and the natural mountain forest at the top of the farm which is right next to the “Laguna de las Ranas” (Frog’s Lagoon).

Additional information

Location: Canton Ojo de Agua, Juayua
Coffee varieties: Bourbón/Pacas
Type of Shade: Ingas: Pepeto, Copalchi, Bambu, Mountain: Cypress
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,600 mm
Average Temperature: 18º C
Type of Soil: Sandy loam
Annual Production: (60kg) 76.6 bags
Mill and company where lot was process: El Molino / Ing. Jose Antonio Salaverria y Co. De C.V.
Fauna: Deer, wild cat, white winged dove, cotuza, tacuacin, squirrel, armadillo, hawk, lion monkey, etc.

GPS Coordinates

Latitude: 13º 53’ 15.37” N
Longitude: 89º 42’ 56.34’’ W