Carlos Hernández, Finca Miraflores and La Mora

Back then, they had to water each plant individually because there was no shade. My own farm is in the middle of a pine forest. The shade ensures a slower and more even ripening process, but I'm sure my grandparents would have thought I was crazy. At the time, they were convinced that coffee couldn't grow under a much larger tree.

So I'm a third-generation coffee farmer, and although I'm now also the mayor of our very small town, I still work on the farm. The weather is perfect year-round under the cool shade of the trees, and working the land helps me calm my mind, focus my thoughts, or simply daydream while I pick beans or clean the farm.

I am one of the founders of Cafesmo and currently also the president of the members' committee. This means I dedicate a large part of my time to organizing Cafesmo and finding ways to help it grow. Sometimes, I host international visitors who want to work with us, or teams from Fair Trade or BioLatina organizations who come to audit and inspect our organization and member farms at random.

It's a multifaceted role, and I'm so happy to be such an active part of Cafesmo. If it weren't for Cafesmo, none of us would be able to get certifications or work directly with importers and roasters in faraway lands.