COFFEE FARMS - FINCAS

COFFEE FINCAS (FARMS)

Our coffee farms are cared for in a controlled shaded environment with natural water sources, in a way that protects and maintains the biodiversity of our environment. Our farms in total are more than 1500 acres. Dr. Frank Bendaña, father of Roberto, started El Quetzal in the 1960s. Our farms have enjoyed international recognition for production and varieties of coffee beans. Dr. Bendana introduced several varieties such as Caturra, Catimor, yellow Catuaí, Pachisol, Java, Villa Sarchí to the farms. We work with systematic pruning, high densities, planting geometric designs, the sun, windbreaks, high technology and inputs. Coffee production has been more than 2.5 tons per hectare during the past five decades.

The environment is ideal for
producing coffee: North Latitude 13 ° degrees, 41-43 minutes; 2,200 millimeters
of rain during 10 months of the year; average temperature 16.5 ° Celsius
(15-22C); PH 4.5-5.0 acid soils, sandy loams to loams francs, averaging 8.5%
organic matter and heights of 4.100 – 4.950, feet (1,200 -. 1,500 meters) above
sea level.

Agroecological production is due to
the use and incorporation of organic matter, compost and legume crop,
Erythrinas ssp, Eucalyptus Grandis windbreakers, Cyperus spp, pines and
hardwoods (mahogany, Granadillo, etc).

Our annual harvest includes 4-6 times of manual picking for each lot in the farms, where only the red grain is chosen.

WET MILL AND DRY MILL

The Bendana-McEwan Farms have both a wet mill located at the farms, and a dry mill outside of Matagalpa.

DIVERSIFICATION AND ENVIRONMENT

We seek to maintain an ecological
balance in the region. On a slope of more than 40 acres, low iron poor land
have been planted with over 15,000 Pinos, 2,000 Japanese Medlar. The roads are
littered with more than 10,000 Cypresses and over 60,000 Eucalyptus trees that
serve as windbreaks.

We partner with more than 1,000
coffee Laureles (Cordia spp.), Casuarinas 500, 250 Nogales, 3,000 Guabas, 200
Citrus. 3,000 trees to enrich our landscape and soil, We have also been
planting our native Granadillo (Rosewood), Avocado Canelo, Mary, Roblesino, and
Oak Mountain. To conclude, we boast that more than 25 Ojos de Agua (Water
Springs) are born on the property, and are in the process of production and
care.