Genaro de Jesus Washed

IF I COULD, I WOULD SLEEP IN MY FINCA AS WELL. MY GRANDFATHER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT SEEDS FROM EL SALVADOR, MAYBE SIXTY YEARS AGO.

He always planted them eight meters (25 ft) apart because those plants grew very large and wide. The quality was sublime, but nowadays we can no longer afford to work like that.

Years later, my father taught me the basics of coffee and now I have been working on my own land for 35 years. I have some cows as well. It’s important to diversify as I have lots of debt due to the chronically low prices for coffee. Besides, I love tending to my cows; they take the stress away and their gentle presence helps me to relax.

But I work far more in my finca, I have around 8 hectares and need a few people to help me year round, and during the harvest season I need a dozen. It’s very difficult nowadays to find enough people. In a way that’s and advantage, as with a smaller team we need to harvest three or even four times, so the beans we pick are nice and ripe, they are picked at their best moment.

Before, my daughters worked with me, but now, one of them lives in California, and the other lives in the nearby town of San Marcos, where she runs a cell phone shop. My grandson lives with my wife and I though, and he loves joining me when I bring him to the finca. I doubt if he is going to want to continue my lifework though, as he sees how much hardship it entails. He’s only thirteen, but I taught him how to drive when he was only ten. Now, he’s very good at it and the police, luckily, never stops him. In fact, we live in such a remote area that there really aren’t any police. We don’t need them either, as it’s a very safe area.

Since I certified my finca for Fair Trade as well as organic, through Cafesmo, things have gone somewhat better. I am now also working on micro-lots and have sold some coffee to a roaster in Australia through Cafesmo recently. In the near future, the plan is to work with roasters in Europa and the Americas as well. Or even Asia. I’m told that demand for high quality coffee is growing fast there.