Finca Montegrande is part of a collaborative with Finca Montegrande Santa Rose and operates one estate, Montegrande Farms. The company was founded in 1917 and cultivates 341 hectares of coffee.
THE PROJECT
Finca Montegrande and Finca Montegrande Santa Rose are two companies, owning one estate, known as Montegrande Farms. It is a 341 hectare coffee estate founded in 1917 by Miguel Moises Haddad. The farm’s coffee production area is 316 hectares and additionally is it has 25 hectares of forests, non productive areas and processing infrastructure. The farm is located in Chiapas and is in the buffer zone of El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. The farm is connected to the protected area through 5km of perennifolia fores corridors existent in neighbors’ farms.
The farm is a leader in coffee agricultural management. They have implemented plantation renewal and pruning systems as a key factor to increase productivity. Montegrande also has invested in field infrastructure and equipment to improve quality control and offer a very competitive product. Montegrande is part of the group of estates which partnered and formed ECEX 2000 (ECEX). ECEX is a 16 year old trading entity that provides marketing and logistics to 15 coffee estates in Chiapas. ECEX maintains a diversified portfolio of buyers such as : JBR Gourmet Foods, Community Coffee Co., Starbucks, Amcafe, and Golllücke & Rothfos. Montegrande is committed to producing high quality, conservation coffee. The organization’s coffee is Utz certified.
THE DEAL
In 2010, VV provided harvest finance to Montegrande in order to help finance harvest expenses. These funds were used to help the grower adhere to conservation coffee standards and improve quality that will translate into premium prices for its product.
THE BENEFIT
The farm is in the buffer zone of El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, connected through perennifolia forests corridors in neighbors’ farms. Montegrande has implemented best practices such as: use of mechanical weed control, soil preservation activities, moderation of agrochemical use and waste management alternatives. In recent years, the organization has been implementing social programs to improve workers’ infrastructure and conditions. These investments have been done with JBR Gourmet Foods resources, coming from the social program that has been implemented. Montegrande also provides housing year round to nearly 200 of its employees.
Montegrande generates its own hydroelectricity which is used in workers’ houses, social areas and business operations. In 2008, Monegrande invested in an assessment and survey of trees and birds within the farm. The results indicated that the farm has approximately 900 trees of 16 different species and 27 bird species, both found in forests and coffee plantation areas. Some additional environmental benefits resulting from the compliance with the conservation coffee practices to date include the following:
• Preservation of natural vegetation buffer zone around all streams
• Reduction in bird and mammal hunting
• Implementation of a new wet milling system to reduce water consumption
• Coffee cherry pulp diverted from local waterways
• Maintenance of shade trees in the entire farm.
• REDD efforts undertaken as a requirement for VV financing
• Continuing sustainable practices of the conservation and reserve areas
• Educating employees and community about proper sustainable practices
• Diversification of shade trees throughout the plantation.