Description
ABOUT
San Agustin located in the South of Huila is a place known for its agriculture and archeological park with an important tourism industry. It’s an area near the famous Colombian Massif where some of the most important rivers of Colombia are born such as the Cauca and Magdalena River. This proximity to the Colombian Massif is a main factor for the richness and fertility of the soil in San Agustin having volcanic ash and rich in hydric sources. One important factor for the economy of this area is agriculture with crops such as sugar cane, avocado and coffee, with the latter gaining notoriety in the last decade, where high quality coffee is found. One last important factor to note about San Agustin, is the heritage of Pre-Columbian cultures of which there is an archeological park, declared Word Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. With all this richness, it was in 2006 that the brand Los Naranjos was created with the coffe of some producers of a rural area of San Agustin known as Llanada Naranjos, with the intention of showcasing their quality and get them known. Now a days, the number of producers who deliver coffee to Los Naranjos in San Agustin has increased substantially with an improvement in the quality of the coffee and the farms seen over time. These are small-scale producers with farms ranging from 1 to 5 hectares, who are aware and watchful of the use of natural resources. They have a constant accompaniment of a PECA agronomist to always improve in farm management and learn more day by day on how to get better.
The department of Huila has become one of Colombia’s largest coffee-producing regions, gaining recognition for its specialty coffee. This trend is evident in municipalities like San Agustin, where the coffee producers contributing to Los Naranjos exemplify this reputation. These producers mainly operate on a small scale, with farms averaging around 3 hectares. They work with a variety of coffee types including Caturra, Tabi, Colombia, and Castillo. In recent years, many of these producers have introduced new coffee varieties such as Pink Bourbon and Gesha. They possess a deep understanding of coffee, displaying humility and dedication to their craft. A significant number of them are second to third-generation coffee farmers, inheriting knowledge that has been passed down through generations. As a pivotal coffee hub, San Agustin o ers easy access to information, facilitated by Caravela’s dedicated PECA technician. This technician regularly visits partner farmers in San Agustin, covering various topics such as harvest estimation, farm management, disease and pest control, processing methods, drying techniques, and more. On average, each producer is visited three times a year, and the topics covered are tailored to the specific needs of each farm and the stage of the harvest cycle. San Agustin’s unique geographic conditions, located in the central cordillera near the Colombian Massif, contribute to its exceptional suitability for co ee cultivation, particularly high-quality co ee. Additionally, many of the producers in the area diversify their farms with other crops, such as sugar cane for panela production or avocado cultivation.
