Costa Rica: Alberto Guardia

Alberto Guardia began growing coffee at Hacienda Sonora in the 1970s. The 100-hectare farm sits at the foot of the active Poás Volcano in Costa Rica’s Central Valley. Sonora has a well-earned reputation for producing quality microlots featuring specific varietal and processing separation. This honey-processed lot is made up entirely of the Obata variety, which is a cross between Villa Sarchi and Timor coffee varieties. Hacienda Sonora has a heavy focus on environmental and social impact—the farm uses 100 percent renewable energy that’s harvested on the farm and has also eliminated excess water usage by utilizing natural and honey processing methods. Sonora also provides workers and their families free accommodations, including most household utilities, in the farm’s houses.

Impact:
Farmer Impact Fund

Bellwether’s Farmer Impact Fund further invests in coffee communities through direct balloon payments to producers who have autonomy to use the money on community and farm-level projects. By adding a small surcharge to your green coffee purchase, these funds are directly distributed to farmers, providing a direct connection between you and your customers to the lives of producers for the first time in the coffee industry. 

Through the Farmer Impact Fund, Alberto has been able to invest in major upgrades and improvements to his mill to increase safety and efficiency, a project he would have been unable to complete without the use of these funds. Contribute to the Farmer Impact Fund today to continue investing in the producers of this region. Your contribution unlocks marketing materials for you to promote your impact with your customers.

Elevation
1300-1400

Process
Honey

Cultivar
Obata

Impact
Farmer Impact Fund