Peru Namballe

Coffee Story
Grown in the high elevations of Taboconas Namballe National Sanctuary along the banks of the Rio Blanco River in the famed Cajamarca region, Ismael Alarcon leads a group of 17 producers who grow their coffee organically with a focus on quality. Helping smallholder producers access the specialty coffee market with long-term sustainability provides a path to long-term profitability. The area boasts an incredibly diverse microclimate and high-quality soil and grows Caturra, Bourbon, and Catimor varieties. Once picked at peak ripeness, this field blend is fully washed and dried on raised or solar beds for 15 to 30 days. Since the beginning, Ismael has helped this producer group implement community projects such as developing organic fertilizers utilizing local materials and empowering producers through offering land management practices.