Colombia - Santander - Sta Maria - S Washed - WW - Organic - by Sail

Finca Santa Maria is located at 1700 meters above sea level in the Santander region, near the village of Aratoca, on the hills above the Chicamocha Canyon, which means "silver river" in indigenous language.  

Santa Maria consists of 6 farms on 80 hectares where Mildred grows the varieties Castillo, Colombia, Caturra, Typica, Geisha, Wush Wush, Tabi, Moka and Maragogype. The farm is Rainforest, organic, Manos de Mujeres and Bird Friendly certified.  

The Santa Maria project is the result of a group of women who have gathered their strength and knowledge around coffee growing. The objective is the production of organic, traceable coffee under shade. The Manos de Mujeres certification implies that the coffee is produced in a preserved environment and in social conditions where women hold leadership positions in the project. The women carry out all the tasks, from agricultural work (planting, harvesting) to the final processing of the coffee. Mildred is the producer, Alba is the cuadrillera, she manages the workforce and Luz is the taster and Q-Grader. Mildred's plan is to expand. She wants to buy more land to increase production and set up a cooperative to increase the influence of women in the coffee industry.

In the Santander region, in the town of Aratoca, we have met Mildred Daza. She is Oscar Daza's wife, the owner of La Pradera. She shares the same vision of organic coffee growing in agroforestry that its husband. She is the head of 6 farms gathered under the name Santa Maria and wishes to promote the place of women within the coffee industry. Certified Manos de Mujeres, she employs 30 women, including Luz, Q-grader and Alba, who is in charge of labour management. Andrea, Mildred's niece, is currently studying Business and Communication in Bucaramanga and is working alongside her to train and then take over the farm.