Natural SHG RED Catuai - Finca la PILA- Jorge Guzman

Jorge joined the Conebosque cooperative in 2010, but his connection to the land began much earlier. He grew up on his family’s farm, surrounded by his father’s hard work and dedication to livestock. Despite this rural upbringing, Jorge, like many young people, became discouraged by the low coffee prices that made it difficult to make a living from the crop. Faced with uncertainty, he made a life-changing decision: to emigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities.

For a decade, Jorge lived abroad, facing the challenges of being far from his homeland and his people. Yet, his heart always remained in Guatemala. After 10 years, he decided to return home to be close to his family and to take up the care of the farm once again, this time with a renewed vision and a strong commitment to coffee.

Upon his return, Jorge found a farm with aging coffee trees, some over 50 years old. Instead of feeling discouraged, he began the task of renewing his land, replacing the old trees with younger, more vigorous ones. Today, much of his land is populated with coffee plants between 10 and 15 years old, ready to produce high-quality harvests.

In addition, Jorge has diversified his farm by planting trees such as bananas, grevillea (silver oak), chalum, orange, and lemon trees, not only to generate additional income but also to provide shade and improve the ecosystem for his coffee plants.

To his community, Jorge is more than just a coffee grower; he is a symbol of perseverance and vision. His positive attitude and kindness have made him a local leader who is always looking for ways to export his coffee and secure better prices to reward the hard work that each harvest entails.

Jorge has shown that, despite the challenges, coffee can be more than just a crop—it can be a path toward hope and a brighter future for his family and his community.

The production of batches of natural coffee is a process that promotes sustainability and respect for the environment. By not requiring the use of water in its processing, the environmental impact associated with the extraction and treatment of this vital resource is significantly reduced. This contributes to the conservation of local water resources and helps prevent contamination of nearby water bodies.

The absence of water in the production of natural coffee also reduces the generation of wastewater and the need for subsequent treatment, which contributes to the reduction of the environmental footprint of the coffee operation. In addition, by avoiding the use of water, the energy required for the drying process is minimized, which in turn reduces the greenhouse gas emissions associated with coffee production.

By adopting practices that dispense with the use of water in the production of natural coffee, coffee farms not only protect local natural resources, but also promote the conservation of fragile ecosystems and the associated biodiversity. This care for the environment is fundamental to guarantee the long-term viability of the coffee industry and to maintain the health of the ecosystems that sustain coffee production.