José Abelardo Guar Ultengo, a coffee grower from the village of Santa Teresa Municipality of Inza (Colombia), resides in the El Paraíso estate with his wife Argenis Melenge and his son. In 2005, Finca El Naranjo – José’s 1-hectare plot found at 1905 m.a.s.l. – started to yield the first cherries.
During his first harvest, José learned a lot about coffee cultivation because he joined the Cooperativa de Cafocultores del Cauca. Working together with the Coop and other farmers proved to be pivotal for José’s success. Jose is eager to learn and has developed his skillset over the year; from crop management, washing, fermenting, drying, and storage.
José also participated in the Best of Cauca coffee competition 2019. His washed 100% Castillo coffee was placed 4th in the competition. An achievement that boosts his confidence and motivates him to do a better job each harvest. José is well aware that his efforts to farming great coffee at Finca El Naranjo will influence the well-being of his family.
