Country: El salvador
Region:Apaneca-Ilamatepec Mountain Range, City: Apaneca & Ataco, Ahuachapán ,El Salvador.
GPS Coordinates:
Latitude: N 13º 52’ 52.3’’
Longitude: W 89º 48’ 24.5’’

Gloria Mercedes Rodriguez is the owner of San José coffee farm, located on the Apaneca – Ilamatepec mountain range. San Jose farm was inherited by Gloria’s father, José María Rodriguez Herrera in the 1950’s, by that time the property was only devoted to cattle for milking purposes, and it was José Maria who started growing coffee of the Bourbon variety, and little by little he noticed coffee was extremely productive on that area. This farm has 13.3 hectares of which 8.4 hectares are grown to coffee at 1,450 meters above sea level. There are 7 hectares reforested with cedar trees of approximately 9 years old. The farm also has a variety of shade trees, which helps maintain and preserve both the soil conditions and a wide variety of birds and small mammals that can be seen even in that region.

This farm is very close to the Laguna de Las Ninfas (Nymphs Lagoon) with a spectacular sight over the Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range, including the impressive Itzalco volcano, and even the Pacific Ocean, and Port of Acajutla. Every year, Gloria establishes nurseries with selected and certified seeds, giving special care to it and keeping her farm in good shape, balancing production and securing future crops.

For four generations Finca San Jose has embodied the force, faith and hope of a family of coffee producers. In 1815 Jose Maria Rodriguez and Josefina Rodriguez planted the first coffee trees with their own hands. Through the generations, the farm has passed through the hands of many committed farmers, beginning with Israel Rodriguez who, followed by Jose Maria Rodriguez cared for the farm until the most recent owner, Gloria Mercedes, took over. Ever the strong woman, Gloria has overcome gender barriers in an industry that has historically been the province of men and continues to personally supervise the process of cultivation. Finca San José ranked 21st in the 2008 Cup of Excellence and 10th place in the 2007 Cup Of Excellence.

From all the work done 7 families depend economically on these farms. Ten of its members work throughout the year, during picking season Gloria hires approximately 60 to 75 people from the community. Gloria is confident of the good coffee quality, because it was cultivated under the conditions and requirements that meet specialty coffee standards such as altitude (1475 - 1520 meters above sea level), 100% Bourbon, picked fully ripe, sandy loam soils, rich in organic matter, among others. In addition to this, pickers were selected from staff with experience and passion that also understands requirements to obtain high quality coffee. The whole process is supervised directly by Gloria. Her success is dedicated to the memory of her father and grandfather, Jose Maria Rodriguez, who his entire life struggled, trusted, and worked with his own hands on these lands, and taught her to love hard work and coffee growing culture

Barefoot Coffee bought the entire 2007 COE lot and fell in love with the coffee and the family that runs the farm. In early 2008 we traveled to El Salvador to visit farms and to build closer relationships. We spent a great deal of time with Gloria and her daughter Maria and grew to appreciate their passion for coffee and quality. While eating fresh turtle eggs at dinner we shook hands on an agreement to purchase their entire harvest of Finca San Jose for 2008 at a very fair price. This was before the 2008 Cup of Excellence award. We then spent two tense months negotiating with importers to help us bring this coffee in to the U.S. Eventually we succeeded in convincing Kayd Neil from Elan Organics to add it to a container she had coming from El Salvador! We would finally get our lovely Finca 408 coffee! And Barefoot just made an agreement to buy the entirety of their harvest from now on as long as quality levels are exceeded. So we will have this great coffee for many years to come.






MICROCLIMATE CONDITIONS
Altitude: 1400 masl (4200 feet)
Average temperature C: 17 (F: 68)
Annual rainfall mm: 3000
Type of soil and predominant element: Loamy-sand
Relative humidity %: 60
Type of shade trees: Ingas: pepeto, cuje, and frut trees.
Beginning of harvest: January. End of harvest: May






FARM PROFILE
Farm Size: 13.30 Hectares
Coffee growing area: 13.30 Hectares
Variety: Bourbon
Mills in the farm: Wet mill, fully washed
Drying method: Sun-dried patio
Annual production (69 K): 35 bags
Temporary Employees: 200
Permanent Employees: 10
Mill and company where lot was process: El Molino, JASAL S.A. de C.V.
Other crops: Mango, Orange and avocado trees Fauna: Taltuza, chiltota, sparrows, squirrel, armadillos, etc.
Certifications or awards: 21st in the 2008 Cup of Excellence and 10th place in the 2007 Cup Of Excellence