Lima
"We are few. To be exact, in our hamlet there are 24 houses and about 180 souls."
We are located an hour from San Marcos, the town with the nearest shops, hospital, and schools. In La Lima, we only have one primary school.
Our lifestyle is very modest. We are entirely dependent on the weather. If there is a drought, or—on the contrary—too much rain, our harvest can be decimated, and we suffer hunger for several months. In our village, it is almost impossible to live on any other income. The land gives us life; it provides our daily bread. Some of our neighbors have decided to travel to the United States illegally, to escape poverty and try to improve the economic situation of their families from the North.
Some have succeeded. Others have failed and returned home, regretting their efforts, hurting, or ashamed of not being able to provide for their families. And a few have lost their lives trying. Those of us who remain here are determined. Although life in our village is not easy, this is where we were born. And this is where we will die.
Despite the challenges we face, we are happy here. Life is simple and healthy. We are surrounded by nature and enjoy incredibly pleasant weather. The temperature rarely rises above 27 degrees Celsius (80 Fahrenheit) and rarely drops below 15 degrees Celsius (60 Fahrenheit). There is shade and tranquility. Here, the word 'stress' is only known to us from the dictionary and from what relatives who live there, in the United States, tell us.
In La Lima, we are involved in various agricultural sectors. We grow corn, sugarcane, a few tomatoes and onions, but mostly coffee. As members of Cafesmo, we have access to their facilities and also enjoy more direct access to international markets.
We don't have solar dryers for preparing specialty coffees, but thanks to our mountain location, the climate is very favorable. At 1,300 meters, the nights are cool, and it rarely rains after the harvest. This allows us to dry our coffees in the sun during the day, and we receive technical support from Cafesmo, which guides us through the entire process. Together, we are able to produce a good volume and offer consistently high-quality, clean coffees.
What's more, all our farms are certified! We hold Fair Trade, Organic, and RFA certifications. This guarantees not only the quality of our coffee, but also respect for the environment and the people who work with us.
Community technical data
Estimated cultivated area: approx. 8 Ha.
Altitude: between 1300 – 1500 meters above sea level
Most important varieties: Ihcafe 90, Obata, Pacas
Cafesmo member producers: 11
Estimated production in a harvest of SCA 81-83 coffees: 8,000 kilos
Certifications: Fair Trade, Organic, RFA
