Omar Orellana:
Coffee, Forests, and Dreams
"Coffee has given me the opportunity to grow, to help my family, and to invest in my land and community."
The road to Omar Dolores' farms winds through natural forests and the fresh mountain air of Honduras. At 1,800 meters above sea level in Cangual and between 1,330 and 1,550 meters in El Cerrón, the landscape is filled with pines, guamos, and pepetes—trees that provide shade for his coffee plants.
Here, amid the morning mist and the songs of birds, Omar cultivates his carefully selected varieties: Parainema, IH-Café 90, and Catuai, beans chosen to withstand the whims of the climate and coffee rust.
Roots in the Land and Heart
Omar’s story with coffee began when he was just a 13-year-old boy, cutting coffee cherries under the sun. "My grandparents grew indigenous coffee, only for their own consumption, not for sale," he recalls. His parents, however, were not coffee farmers; they worked as employees for others. But Omar, with determination and a seed in hand, decided to sow his own future. "With the money I earned cutting coffee, I bought three tareas (a local unit of land measurement) of land. Then, with each harvest, I bought a little more." Little by little, his farm grew: first half a hectare, then more, until it became what it is today—a legacy of hard work and passion.
Although he is technically a first-generation producer, coffee flows in his veins. And though he doesn’t use chemicals or pesticides, he still doesn’t have certifications. "The land gives to me, and I take care of it," he says simply.
Between Forests and Coffee Fields
Omar’s farms are enveloped in nature. The natural forests that surround them not only protect his crops but are also home to biodiversity that he respects and values. "There’s a lot of shade here, and that’s good for the coffee," he explains. There are no fruit trees because the coffee grows among the forests, in harmony with the environment. The harvest begins in November in the lower areas and extends until mid-March in the higher zones, where the climate is cooler and the coffee matures more slowly.
Omar is not just a coffee farmer; he has also been the mayor of Dolores since 2014. His love for the community is as tangible as his love for the land. He organizes football championships with 12 participating teams, seeking to give young people a purpose, positive energy, and a future away from the wrong paths. "I want them to have opportunities, to feel that their lives have meaning," he comments.
Coffee as a Driver of Change
For Omar, coffee is more than a crop: it is a symbol of quality and pride. "Everything I produce is of quality, and I always separate the best to get a differentiated price," he says. His goal is clear: to achieve a great natural lot, perhaps with the support of Cafesmo. But his vision goes beyond the beans. "Coffee has given me the opportunity to grow, to help my family, and to invest in my land and community."
His experience as an agronomist has allowed him to manage his farm with technical knowledge, but his true learning came from years further away. Between 2010 and 2013, Omar lived in Liberia and Sierra Leone, working with the Catholic Church to educate young people and rescue them from guerrilla groups. "Those were incredible years, full of love and care for others, but also moments of desperation and fear," he recalls. Once, while building a parish, they discovered a grenade that almost exploded. The project was canceled due to the risk of mines and explosives, but that experience marked his life forever. "I learned the value of resilience and the importance of giving hope to others."
Upon returning to Honduras, he applied those lessons to his community. "I try to put into practice what I experienced in Africa: giving love, support, and opportunities to those who need it most."
Family and Future
Omar is a family man. His school-aged children are his greatest joy. "I love spending my free time with them," he says. His children are his driving force, and although coffee takes up much of his life, he always finds time to be with them.
His story is an example of how coffee can be more than a means of survival: it can be a tool to transform lives and communities. "Coffee has given me a lot, but I want to give more," he says. And in Cangual and El Cerrón, among the forests and coffee fields, he continues to build that dream.
A Growing Legacy
Today, Omar looks to the future with optimism. He wants to continue improving the quality of his coffee, experiment with new techniques, and, above all, continue being a pillar in his community. "Coffee is my passion, but my true mission is to help others grow," he concludes.
In the mountains of Honduras, Omar Orellana doesn’t just grow coffee: he cultivates hope.
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