Colombia, Sierra Nevada – Green Coffee Beans

Description

Sierra Nevada, Cooperative: Anei

Located in northern Colombia, Anei (the Association of Indigenous and Campesino Agroecological Producers of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía del Perijá) was founded in 1995 by Aurora Izquierdo. As the first Arhuaco woman of the Yewrwa community to obtain a university degree, her goal was to organize the local indigenous and farmer economies. She used coffee as a tool to secure the future of those communities through the implementation of eco-sustainable programs and projects, strengthening organizational processes and reclaiming the social, economic, and cultural rights of members. ANEI produces high-quality organic coffee grown in harmony with, and with respect for, Mother Earth, and they are in the process of transitioning to Bird-Friendly certified production.

The Anei cooperative consists of indigenous Arahuacos, Cogis, Güigüas, Kankuamo, as well as campesino groups among its 700+ members scattered through the southeastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Anei seeks to support indigenous cultures in the region by sustaining autonomous indigenous governance structures, supporting local “cabildos,’’ and deferring leadership to local “mamos” or village elders. They also support local economies by managing community shops known as “Jwi Kakumay’’.

Growing coffee organically supports their world-view of being the “elder brothers’’ of humanity and stewards of the environment, responsible for maintaining the balance of the universe. Climate change is considered a failure of the “younger brothers” (the rest of the world, known as bunachi). Their philosophy maintains that in order to bring back balance, they need to make offerings in sacred sites. Every harvest season, they ask permission from the earth to take from the earth, with a future promise to return to it.

Coffee Production in Colombia

Colombia is one of the world’s leading producers of arabica coffee, accounting for approximately 10–15% of global output, contributing significantly to rural employment and national GDP. The country’s geographic and climatic conditions—characterized by high-altitude terrain, consistent rainfall, and volcanic soils—create optimal environments for coffee cultivation, particularly in the Andean region.

Colombian coffee is predominantly grown by smallholder farmers on plots averaging less than 2 hectares. Cultivation primarily occurs between 1200 and 2200 meters above sea level. Shade-grown methods are common, supporting both biodiversity and microclimate regulation. Crop management includes selective hand harvesting, pruning, and integrated pest management, with a focus on controlling Coffee Leaf Rust (Hemileia vastatrix) and the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei).

Post-harvest, coffee cherries are generally processed using the washed (wet) method, which involves de-pulping and sun or mechanical drying. This process tends to enhance the acidity and clarity in cup profile. Water usage and waste management in wet processing are key concerns, with increasing adoption of eco-friendly practices to reduce environmental impact becoming more and more important.

Colombia cultivates multiple arabica varieties, including Caturra, Castillo, and Typica. The National Coffee Research Center supports a lot of genetic research and breeding programs in Colombia in an attempt to improve yield, disease resistance, and cup quality. The Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) also plays a central role in supporting farmers through price stabilization mechanisms, technical assistance, research, and infrastructure development.