Climate Change is Making Coffee Farming in Guatemala Harder, and This Farmer Wants to Change That

The coffee shop owner reminded everyone that due to shortages of staff, they closed at 5pm on Wednesdays. So, everyone gathered their things in an abrupt manner and hurried out the door, out of respect for everyone who works in coffee. Coffee people are different: they taste, smell and are aware of so many things around them, including emotions. Besides, it was good to get out of my seated cafe position and go on a walk; I had a long call to make to a very special coffee person. She’s the face of an every-changing wave of coffee entrepreneurs, and understands deeply the impacts of climate change in her home country of Guatemala.

Herceny Del Cid recently became the new owner and operator of her 10-acre family coffee farm in Santa Rosa de Lima, Guatemala. She’s probably the first woman to own that land, where land is being concentrated among the very wealthy (including American buyers), and is a piece of the reason that there is armed conflict. On her 9,000-tree coffee estate, sitting at an altitude of 1,100 meters, contains decades of memories. The coffee trees at Finca Del Cid are the typical varieties of Bourbon (Catuai and Catimor). After roasting, these beans are known for their cardamom flavor with notes of chocolate, honey, almond, and other warm spices like nutmeg.

This is specialty coffee, where scores are at least 80 out of 100. Specialty coffee is growing in America. About 28 million Americans enjoy this high-quality coffee on a daily basis and it’s increasingly trendy (sales are increasing 20% year-over-year). It’s no wonder that Herceny has decided to invest in her family’s farm and start her own roasting company in Los Angeles. She wants to share her love for coffee and keep it farmer-first, and sustainable. One can often find a post from Guatemala on their instagram page.

CLIMATE MIGRATION

"I want coffee farmers to thrive in Guatemala. Immigrating should be the last option." - Herceny Del Cid, Coffee Entrepreneur

Coming to the US from Guatemala was the better of two very difficult realities for the Del Cid’s. Guatemala had become dangerous for their family, with threats of kidnapping of her and her siblings. The incomes at home weren’t enough and the US provided hope for a stable future.

The 15-day trek, hiding in trunks of cars, walking for miles and attempting to pass as Mexicans when stopped by police, sleeping in random houses both inside and outside, was exhausting and scary. Herceny remembers it as an “adventure” because she was with her parents the whole way, but also recalls it being long periods of time without food and sleeping in random houses. After arriving, they still weren’t in the clear. It would be 10 years before they would become citizens. She wouldn’t wish that journey and constant fear of deportation on any of her fellow Guatemalans. In fact, she says, “I want coffee farmers to thrive in Guatemala. Immigrating should be the last option.”

CLIMATE CHANGING COFFEE

In the last 30 years, the situation has been compounded by more extreme weather events on coffee farms. It’s warmer in Guatemala, and forecasts say this will continue, meaning that optimal altitudes for growing coffee will change. This will also bring more pest and diseases.

La Roya, or Coffee Leaf Rust, is a common and major disease for coffee that can destroy coffee production up to 100%! Much like COVID, the spread of La Roya, a rust-colored fungus, can be prevented with proper techniques.

To combat these challenges, Finca Del Cid has launched a pilot program with their farm and the surrounding coffee community in Santa Rosa de Lima. The challenges they face are betting on a given year or a given practice, not knowing what the season’s weather will be. Their program is integrating Climate Smart Coffee protection by Sprout.

Learn more about other sustainable coffee resources at protect.coffee.

CLIMATE SMART COFFEE (TM)

Climate Smart Coffee is a seal on coffee that lets consumers know that each bag they buy has built-in climate protection for its farmers. Sprout CEO explained Climate Smart Coffee in a recent webinar with the founder of Jamii Coffee, an importer committed to sustainable Kenyan coffee, imported to the US. They combine Sprout Alerts, a texting platform that tells farmers about their weather and pest and disease risk with coffee insurance for the most extreme risks, like drought.

BRINGING GUATEMALAN SPECIALTY COFFEE TO LOS ANGELES

Herceny has a big opportunity to sell Finca Del Cid’s specialty coffee working with a well-known importer in the US. She is committed to investing in her farm, and is taking the right steps to mitigate the risks.

On the eve of COP27, Herceny is hopeful that climate change will reverse with the commitment of all nations. In the meantime, while we wait for temperatures to go back down, there’s a solution we can use. Investment in farms, coupled with the right technologies like that which Sprout provides, is what we need. She urges the Biden-Harris Administration to continue its investments in climate change resilience for Central Americans by providing subsidies for these technologies as well as insurance premiums.

While Herceny has assimilated to American culture, she has kept her Guatemalan roots. She’s demonstrating that by caring for her community in Santa Rosa de Lima and making sure the coffee that comes to Los Angeles is sustainable for everyone.

If you’re interested in participating in Climate Smart Coffee in Kenya, Rwanda or Guatemala, get in touch at coffee@sproutprotect.com.

Currently, Climate Smart Coffee (Kenya) is being sold by Exilior Coffee, a sustainable roaster who believes in protecting farmers. Purchase a bag here and taste the unique flavors of Kenyan coffee.