Fazenda Vila Boa - Natural Yellow Catucaí - Lot SL4009

GROWER: Mônica Borges de Souza
CITY: Carmo da Mata
REGION: Campo das Vertentes
TOTAL AREA: 1,200 hectares
PRESERVED AREA: 305 hectares
COFFEE AREA: 320 hectares
MAIN VARIETALS: Yellow Bourbon, Catucaí, Topázio, Mundo Novo, Arara, Sabiá, Icatú, Acaia, Acauã
CERTIFICATION: UTZ
FAMILIES LIVING IN THE FARM: 03
ALTITUDE RANGE: 960 meters to 1,200 meters
WORKERS: 25
SOIL TYPE: Red Latosol
ANNUAL RAINFALL: 1,400 mm
PROCESSING: Natural, Pulped Natural and Fermented
DRYING STRUCTURE: Concrete patio, Raised beds, rotating and vertical dryers

Passionate about challenges and discoveries, Mônica Borges de Souza, decided to
interrupt her university studies of psychology in the capital city of the state and move
back to her home town of Carmo da Mata to become a coffee grower. At such a young
age, she was only 18, and in time women were still struggling for more space in the
coffee industry, this was a very bold decision that opened a new phase and would
change her life forever.

Monica’s main source of inspiration came from her father, Mr. Nelson Borges, with
whom she experienced the daily care and passion of the work in coffee plantations at
Fazenda Vila Boa. Following his example, Mônica gradually took over the management
of the farm to start her own journey in coffee. At first, she was faced with many
challenges and lots of work, but through her dedication and support of co-workers on a
daily-basis, she reorganized the operations. The plantations were expanded, the
agricultural husbandry was adjusted, the post-harvest infrastructure was built, and little
by little, Fazenda Vila Boa shifted its production towards specialty coffees.

Monica sees coffee farming as a continuous learning process and is always seeking
more knowledge. Even with some mistakes along the way, she has been able to achieve
great success and the good results of the farm enabled Monica to fulfill her child's
dream to support the development of communities by the means of art. Thus, in 2011
she created the ICafé Institute, offering arts activities and new life perspectives to the
hundreds of kids and families in the city of Carmo da Mata.