La Bolsa, Vides Family, Guatemala | Washed FSC-8859

Finca La Bolsa was bought by Jorge Vides, a distinguished medical professional, in 1958. Prior to this, the land was not used for coffee production. Jorge won numerous awards for coffee production and for his services to the Huehuetenango region, and the main hospital in the coffee-growing community was named after him. In 2002, La Bolsa competed in the Cup of Excellence competition and placed second, scoring 94.98. The farm sits between two mountains, which provide a very stable, humid microclimate. Combined with the limestone-rich soils, this gives the coffee a unique profile, with a rich, syrupy body and plenty of malic and citric acidity. Coffee is fermented for between 18 and 24 hours, then cleaned of mucilage, graded in channels, and soaked overnight.

La Bolsa is RFA-certified and follows C.A.F.E Practices guidelines. Coffee Care funded the construction of a school and nursery on the farm, staffed with fully trained, full-time teachers. All temporary and permanent staff have access to schooling for their children, and they are incentivized to leave their children at school or nursery through a food donation program. When a child attends school or nursery for five consecutive days, the family receives a weekly supply of rice, beans, and corn. Before this food ration scheme, it was difficult to persuade parents to leave their children in the care of others, as schooling was not always valued and there was pressure to have children contribute to the family income. As a result, there are now no children working on the farm, and the school and nursery are full. Accommodation is provided for both permanent and temporary workers, with separate facilities for men, women, and families, as well as bathrooms and kitchens. Certain sections of the farm are designated as conservation areas to promote biodiversity, reduce wind exposure, and prevent soil erosion. Inga trees are used as shade trees and to fix nitrogen in the soil, which is essential for cherry growth.