NW - Finca Tepetzinta - Mexico 2025 (Experimental)

Erick Isaías García Cortés, an agronomist by training, returned to his family's coffee farm, Finca Tepetzinta, in 2015 after completing his studies. Located at the foot of a mountain—aptly named from the Náhuatl words "Tepe" (hill) and "Tzinta" (at the foot of)—the farm has become a model of sustainable coffee cultivation.

Embracing agroecological practices, Erick has implemented an integrated agricultural management system that emphasizes soil and water conservation. The farm utilizes a biofactory to produce organic inputs such as bocashi compost, worm leachate, ash broths, Bordeaux mixture, sulfur-calcium broth, and mountain microorganisms. These inputs are applied to nourish the coffee plants and prevent pests and diseases naturally.

Harvesting is conducted with meticulous care, selecting only uniformly ripe red cherries. The cherries are depulped using natural spring water, fermented for approximately 24 hours, and then washed and dried on rustic solar dryers. The processed coffee is stored in hermetic bags and parchment sacks on pallets in cool, ventilated spaces to preserve quality.

Beyond his work on the farm, Erick is a founding member of "Directo al Origen," a producers' society aimed at making coffee cultivation a sustainable activity. The organization promotes integrated agricultural management, innovation in post-harvest processes, and short marketing chains to return value to the origin through the production, transformation, and commercialization of specialty coffees.

Erick's dedication to quality and sustainability was recognized when he won the "Taza de Oro" in the Yara Champions Coffee Program 2024 in the washed coffee category. His vision for the future involves professionalizing every stage of coffee cultivation by implementing innovations that allow for productive and sustainable activity in harmony with all participants in the value chain.

For international buyers seeking high-quality, sustainably produced coffee, Finca Tepetzinta and the broader "Directo al Origen" initiative represent a commitment to excellence, environmental stewardship, and community development.