Finca Huixoc is a large estate farm spanning 105 Hectares, 99 of which cultivate coffee. It is located in the humid mountainous terrain of the Northwest region of Guatemala, Huehuetenango. Located at 1250-1800 meters above sea level with heavy rainfall and nutrient rich soil, this farm has traditionally produced quality Bourbon and Caturra Varietals. In recent renovations they have also added roya resistant varietals such as Anacafé 14, Sarchimor and Obata. Six hectares of this plantation are natural forest reserve.
The farm is completely covered by Inga and Chalum shade trees. These shade trees help protect the plants from the sometimes harsh rains and sunlight characterized by the region. They also provide nutrients to the soil through falling foliage. The plantation is located on a mountainous terrain, so these shade trees as well as the terracing of coffee play an integral role in the prevention of soil degradation.
Finca Huixoc renovates and plants new coffee varietals based off of existing varietals with good genetics. A plant with good genetics would produce a high quality coffee bean, be highly productive in the climate and environmental conditions of the farm, and be pest and disease resistant. They take seeds from these mother plants and germinate them in nutrient rich soil in their nursery. The seedlings that thrive are then planted among Finca Huixoc to continue the production of high quality sustainable coffees grown and processed on this farm.
They create a nutrient rich soil by adding discarded cherry pulp from the mill. This pulp is broken down into nutrients the plants can use through a process of worm composting. The worms consume and breakdown the pulp to make great organic fertilizer for the plantation and the nursery. To assure that the soil is healthy, the workers monitor and analyze it constantly to guarantee the high production of quality coffee. There are no pesticides used on this farm, but rather they use ecologically friendly traps to control pests with little cost to the farm.
