Rio Blanco is a new producer group led by Ismael Alarcon and sixteen other farmers located on the banks of the Rio Blanco river in Tabacones Namballe National Sanctuary. Ismael organized Rio Blanco focusing on helping smallholder producers get the best possible price for coffee through quality improvements. Several community projects have been implemented, such as developing organic fertilizers utilizing local materials and empowering producers through offering land management practices. Long term sustainability offers a path to long term profitability for small holders.
Fernaly’s farm “El Cedro” is located in the district of Carmen de la Frontera, within the province of Huancabamba in the Piura region, on the border between Namballe in Cajamarca and Ecuador. He intersperses Caturra, Typica and Bourbon varieties among shade trees including Albizia and Pacay. After processing, he loads parchment onto mules for delivery to the cooperative, where he is paid a base price immediately based on the day’s market. As with all Rio Blanco producers, he receives quality premiums once the coffee is evaulated. Fernaly is a passionate coffee producer and wishes to obtain national and international recognition in the future.
