Small things in life matter. A QUEST to make coffee cherry picking meaningful and children free!

We find on our way up to the top of the mountain, Hernan  encountered families picking coffee with their kids as they had their summer school break. Three little ones were standing looking upwards just like if something magical was going on on the top of the tree. Hernan just could not help to stay there and ask them if they needed something. The answer was yes. They were hungry and wished for fruit. The tree they were staring at name  is Nispero and the fruit of the Nispero tree is ye so I went on climbing the tree like a monkey to give them some fruit. I just can´t describe the happiness of those kids and the gratitude they felt for such a small action. Sometimes small things, actions matter. Specially, when we extend our helping hand to others.

Now, back to coffee trees. We were introduced to the many differences between the different varieties grown in the forest from Caturra and Pache to Catimor, Bourbon and Gesha among others. We studied them all and tried them all.

While Gesha and Red Bourbon were extremely sweet with Gesha having some fresh sweet hints of mint, Red Bourbon is more complex with berry notes, Caturra had a particular note of black pepper while Pache is truly fruity and complex, which was not expected.

On the way back to la Finca we met more kids and off and up to the tree again to pick some more fruit for them. The smiles were priceless. And, we bought school gadgets, pens, bags and books for the kids to encourage them to stay in school and away from picking. They need to be educated first. Then, they can decide what to do with their lives but kids must never be thrown into work while taking away their fair chance to learn and become knowledgeable!