Arlam Aguirre

About this coffee

Arlam (via his wife Yoesmi Martinez) is a member of a very special co-operative of smallholders who are working collectively to farm more ecologically, improve coff ee quality and access fi nal buyers. We were in fact the fi rst importers to purchase directly from the group, called ASIAST 6 Asociacif3n Integral Agredcola Sostenible Toneca (Toneca is a colloquial adjective for San Antonio Huista where the co-op is based). Asiast producers, while continuing to use minimal amounts of conventional fertilisers, are also implementing really exciting ecological processes (it 6s a drought prone area, experiencing the increased eff ect of climate change). We 6ve seen terracing and planting in contour lines to capture water and avoid soil erosion; planting of groundcover crops in between rows of coff ee plants to retain water; planting native shade trees; composting systems and organic fertilization.