The Chavarria Family and Pablo and Ana
Meet Diego Chavarria, coffee farmer from Matagalpa, Nicaragua. This is a dear friend of mine and the grower of Cafe Diego.It is a special story. A story of a love for the land, the Lord, his laborers, and his family.
Rosedale Mennonite Mission workers met Diego in the 1970's when his Mom and Dad opened their home for our agency workers to stay in their home. This began a friendship that has lasted through the years. Diego and I met two years ago. He shared with me how the crisis in coffee was affecting his family and the many families on his farms. He often had wet eyes as he talked of his laborers loyalty, faithfulness and hard work when often there was no money to pay them.
Diego has 300 hectors of land, much of it planted in coffee, and close to 100 laborers living on his property. It is his responsibility to provide work, food, and a sustainable livelihood for these families. With coffee prices way below what it costs to produce, it was a loosing game.
We began to dream of a full container coming directly from this farm, with Hemisphere Coffee paying a price that was over his costs and allowed him to make a profit. In return, Diego would sort out his best coffee, walk it through a stringent grading program and have the coffee independently evaluated.
This container is here, the coffee is "bueno excellent"! Whether you are a roaster, a church, café, restaurant owner or an individual, your partnership can enable us to continue to operate in Nicaragua and expand to other locations as well.
