Mexico - Chiapas, de Vista Hermosa

Mario Santiz Lopez is a second-generation coffee farmer and theowner of Finca Vista Hermosa, a small 2.5 hectare farm in theAltos region of Chiapas. Before they grew coffee, Mario's parentsraised corn and beans, but those crops did not provide enoughincome to sustain the family. Out of desperation, his father tooka job at one of the larger area farms. It was there that he learnedabout coffee production and the potential earnings he couldachieve by growing coffee.The Lopez family started growing coffee and things went welluntil 2012 when their coffee farm was hit by leaf rust. Thedisease decimated their farm. Production fell from 60 to just tenbags of coffee per year. Fortunately, in 2014 the Lopez familyfound support through the "Mas Cafe" project. The programhelped the Lopez's renovate and recover two hectares. Soon,production increased to 120 bags per year, saving the Lopezfamily's farm and livelihood.The farming community in Altos is strong. Every year in August,area producers in this region celebrate the 'Virgen de Juquila"religious festivity. They have a big gathering where they invitefriends and family to drink Posh (a local beverage) and eatTamales. Each year after harvest there is a similar celebrationwith the workers at the farm.By:"Genuineorigin.com"