La Villa farm was passed down from Juan’s (the producer) father, who first arrived in 1965. They purchased the land and initially cultivated beans and coffee around 1970. Initially, the Indigenous communities disapproved of coffee cultivation in the area, leading to the first crops being grown discreetly among the weeds. As time went on, the federation’s efforts popularized coffee in the region. It was in 2005 when, at the cooperative’s initiative, La Villa farm entered a local competition and won, receiving a substantial prize. This marked the beginning of improving coffee production procedures and varieties on the farm. Presently, the farm independently produces 90% of its coffee using a variety of methods right on the premises.
Juan Darío, the son of Don Bautista, the farm’s first owner, has been immersed in agricultural practices from a tender age. He assisted in harvesting and cleaning crops, developing a passion for coffee processes throughout his life. At the age of 15, he enrolled in a technical program for agricultural production at SENA, a vocational school in Colombia. PRODUCER This opportunity led him to specialize in using organic fertilizers for coffee cultivation. In 2017, he began growing coffee and exploring various methods, which helped him become proficient in cupping and processing coffee using both natural and washed techniques, as well as experimenting with different fermentation durations.
