Olmedo Cebay
Olmedo comes from a long line of coffee farmers who have grown coffee for generations in the mountains of Eastern Cauca and Western Huila. When he was 14, he began working with his parents and brothers, picking and de-pulping coffee cherries by hand.
“I farm coffee because it is the best crop in my region,” says Olmedo. It is the main crop farmed in the microclimates of Western Huila, which has demonstrated the capacity to produce specialty coffee. For smallholder farmers, like Olmedo, it is almost as if by inertia that they take the path into specialty coffee guided by tradition, family, and economics.
Olmedo recalls how the coffee boer attacked the crops a few years ago and how farmers' livelihoods were affected. Prices suddenly dropped, making it challenging to make improvements to his farm. Although he has gradually recovered over time, he is determined to experiment with natural and honey-processed coffee. “I want to focus on quality because my trees can deliver quality,” says Olmedo.
He has plans to install an eco-friendly de-pulping machine, renovate fermentation tanks, and build another drying station that will allow higher output. Cosecha Traders looks forward to delivering sustained support to a farmer as committed as Olmedo.
Department: Huila
Varietals: Caturra and Castillo
Altitude: 1730 MASL
Process: Washed double fermentation
Shade Trees: Cachimbo, cedar, chachafruto, and orange
