Siblings carry on tradition while envisioning change| Q&A with Claudia & Luis

We had the chance to sit down with siblings Claudia & Luis, members of the Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar and second generation coffee farmers. They’ve both decided to carry on the family tradition of while envisioning change and a more inclusive market.

What is something that you would like to change in the coffee industry, at a local and/or global level?

Claudia: Something that I would like to change in the coffee industry, local and global, is the way that some local buyers think about our work. Sometimes they don’t want to pay a fair price but this could be because they don’t understand all the hard work that goes into producing a bag of coffee. In that sense, I would like to ensure that families that produce coffee receive a better price.

Luis: One of the things that I would like to change here locally is the typical sales model in that so many farmers are forced to sell their coffee to intermediaries. These [intermediaries] set the price and pay very little for the ripened cherries. I would like for them to be more aware and support small scale producers so that families have a dignified income. If that was the case, this would enable families in the community to thrive, have more opportunities, and have an overall higher quality of life.

How have you benefited from being part of the Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar?

Claudia: Being part of the [Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar] has helped me be more aware about coffee from processing to exportation. In the past, we only knew how to harvest the coffee cherries and sell them in the local market. Therefore, we didn’t reap the benefits of our work because we didn’t receive a good price. Now, I export my coffee and I receive a better price.

Luis: They’ve supported me in having the initial money to be able to create a career in this industry and advance little by little. I’ve also participated in the trainings and learned how to work on a team–we all help each other advance in our work.

What are some of your coffee-specific goals as a producer and entrepreneur?

Claudia: My goals as a producer and entrepreneur is to have higher sales, increase my coffee production, and generate jobs in my community and help more families.

Luis: My goals as a coffee farmer is to acquire more knowledge of the agricultural element of coffee growing, such as how to tend to the fields, care for the coffee, plants, production, and also learn more about the processing aspect to have a higher quality product.

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