Colombia Rafael Rojas

Meet Farmer Rafael, steward of Finca Palo Grande nestled in the verdant hills of Paicol, Huila, Colombia. His dedication to cultivating exceptional coffee shines through in this meticulously processed wet/washed lot, a harmonious blend of Colombia, Castillo, Tabi, and Catimor varietals that encapsulates the essence of the region with an added touch of distinction.

This coffee is a testament to the fruitful partnership between Farmer Rafael and the Colombia-focused collective, Cedro Alto. Together, they exemplify the collaborative spirit driving positive change in the industry, with a keen focus on refining harvest selection methods for the future. Karl, a pivotal member of Cedro Alto, serves as a bridge, facilitating open communication channels between producers like Rafael and us at Mostra.

Through this synergy, unexpected discoveries unfold, such as a serendipitous variation in the drying process identified and replicated by the micro-regional group this year. For us at Mostra, it's about more than just transactional labels like "Direct Trade." While this coffee may not fit neatly into that category, its impact on the lives of farmers like Rafael surpasses what we could achieve alone. It's a testament to the power of collaboration and the shared commitment to creating a sustainable, equitable future for coffee producers worldwide.

How about a little taste of Cedro Alto’s ethos in their own words:
"Coffee came to be cultivated in most of the world as a colonial cash crop, and was not designed to provide its cultivators with a stable livelihood. The colonies are mostly a thing of the past, but colonial mercantilism still characterizes certain aspects of how the sector and supply chain are organized, as well as how many industry actors, from consumers to producers themselves, view the relationships and dynamics that make up the chain.⁣ We at Cedro Alto believe that one of these aspects common in the specialty end of the coffee spectrum is the presence of traceability and transparency information about producers, shared with roasters and consumers. We aim to legitimately give producers a voice in this industry and the ability to determine their own position, future, and career and believe that one low-hanging fruit is to simply share traceability and transparency information going the other direction, about what happened with their coffee, how it performed, how it was purchased, and discuss it like adults.⁣ The two of us at the Cedro Alto office work for producers who choose to work with us. Just like I used to have to deliver periodic reports to clients when I was a consultant for them to decide whether to continue retaining my services, coffee farmers that work with us should receive the same service and accountability and have the information needed to gauge our efficiency and performance at getting their coffee sold and getting them paid as much as the market will allow. Yes, it takes time, and therefore has a cost. Yes, it sometimes creates more questions than answers and can be uncomfortable and open us up to criticism that we could have avoided. That doesn't make it any less important."